Ole, today you are 25 years old. A quarter century. You are now the same age I was when you were born. Put down your video game and ponder that one!
By the time you were born I had worked at a McDonald's as the token woman in the back (back then women were only allowed up by the front counter), a regional park assistant naturalist, another hamburger joint, a Chinese restaurant as a busser (only Chinese people were allowed to wait tables), picked blackberries out in the field, demonstrated with United Farm Workers, seen Bob Dylan and The Band, worked in two different vet hospitals, manned a tourist resort where I had to mind the store, the restaurant and rent the boats and cabins all by myself....and plenty more.
You haven't been on your own very long. I threw you into life's soup by moving away, but I hope you understand now that I had to do that so you could learn how to be strong.
Your life hasn't been easy. Raising you was harder than hell, and I know you know that. It wasn't easy for either of us. But we made it, we both made it! And I love you more than life itself. And I mean that literally. You are smart, good looking, and so funny! WHEN are you going to tell me that "Who has the stupider son" joke in your Scots accent?
I owe you plenty. If it weren't for you I would not truly know what it is to be an adult. There are really only two kinds of parents in the world. Those who step up to bat and decide to do the right thing, and those who are so immature that they run away (not necessarily physically) and avoid being parents (ie: adults). I am proud that I was the former sort and stood up for you. No one is perfect, and I will be the first to say that I wish I could have been a better mom than I was. But, I think that I did a good job because I really like who you have turned out to be. I hope, when and if you have children (and it better not be soon or I'll strangle you!) that you will be the same sort of parent, one who will hang in there with your kids no matter what.
I love you. We have earned each other. Happy birthday, Ole.
