On This Day in History....

Some fairly important things happened on February 12. Among them

Abraham Lincoln was born

Women residents of the Utah Territory were granted the right to vote

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded

Our boy was born.

As I write this, he is clomping around the kitchen in his steel-toed work boots preparing his lunch and complaining about having to go to work today when he just wants to stay home and play. He also would like to be 16 1/2 again instead of 33. His father makes a joke.

I think I should be able to stay home and play too. Having the baby was a big deal for us and for my family, because our boy was the first grandchild, and it marked our transitions from man and woman to father and mother. 

Raising this child has been an interesting journey, and it ain't over yet -- in fact, it will continue as long as we walk the earth. Babies don’t come with an instruction booklet. God assigned this soul to our family for a reason and we tried to do the best we could when he was a kid, and we are still trying to do the best we can now that our man child is a man.

Last night I thinly sliced beef and put it in citrus marinade for fajitas, and I made the chocolate cake that will be turned into his birthday dessert later in the day. As an aside, I should be an honorary member of the Cake Wreck blog. I make the worst looking cakes ever -- before they are frosted, which is why they are usually cut in cubes and covered with pudding and whipped topping and bits of crushed Heath bar.

A small celebration will be had, and we will debate about whether to watch any of the opening Olympic Ceremony, and a good time will be had by all.