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Because I Said So

A First Time For Everything

Written by James Grayson
Thursday, 30 August 2007

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This summer has come and gone in a blink of an eye. Each one seems to go faster than the last and they all end with my birthday as a reminder that I am one more year closer to retirement or death, whichever comes first.

The last few months have been a big Summer of Firsts in this house. My son had his first jump into a pool from the side (with a life vest on), his first trip to Dallas Cowboys Training Camp, his first time bowling when we had to go two days in a row, his first strike at the bowling alley, his inaugural trip to Peter Pan Mini Golf on Barton Springs Road, his first movie in a theater when we saw Ratatouille, his first bicycle, and his first team sport experience playing kickball at the recreation center. It has been a busy summer for the little guy despite the six weeks of rain that kept us indoors away from the flash floods and millions of hungry skeeters looking for a tasty snack from our legs.

The Summer of Firsts also included a trampoline, which spent many days sitting unused due to the rain and heat but is now seeing some action again under the shade of a very large oak tree. I moved it from under one oak tree to another with less overhanging branches and where some Mourning Doves didn't use the potty so much. And by "so much" I mean it looked like several families of Mourning Doves had a contest to see how many times they could crap on the trampoline before I came back out to hose it off again. I think they were laughing at me and not cooing. A BB gun was looking like a quality purchase for the Summer of Firsts, but I love animals so I just moved the trampoline and shook my fist in the air.

It was a big Summer of Firsts for my daughter, too. It was her first summer walking, talking, tricycling, playing with her friends instead of being stuck on the floor, and torturing her big brother while he was trying to take a nap. At nineteen-months old, she already knows how to push his buttons. She also knows how to play hard and have fun with him, too. The two of them wore each other out most days and slept soundly through the nights – a first for Mama and me.

It was also my daughter’s first summer learning many new words like baby, puppy, stroller, apple, ball, bike, shoes, and tree. Oh yea, and “NO!” That’s her favorite word. She even uses the word “no” when she really means, “yes.” That’s a habit I’m going to have to break soon before she starts dating, which at the rate these summers are flying by, won’t be far away.

So another summer has come and gone. My son started pre-k and will be in elementary school next year. My daughter will start preschool next year. My wife will be done with grad school at the end of this year. And me? I’m just looking forward to another fun summer with the family while trying to forget that a birthday will be lurking around the corner.