Happy Birthday Oldest

8/17 is a special day at our house.
Oldest's birth was high drama (as many first babies are), he had a charmed life (alone with us for six years) and always walked his own road, for better or worse.
What's Oldest up to now?
As a licensed tattoo artist in the city, he works for a family owned shop where the owners adore him.
I went to visit him one day a few weeks ago...

Owner of the Shop: Oh! Mrs! Your son is the most wonderful employee! A genius, really!

me: Well, I don't know about genius.

OoTS: Oh, no, ma'am, this fellow, this fellow IS a genius. When someone walks into the shop wanting a tattoo but unsure of what they want and they leave with a beautiful big piece of artwork on their back, well, that is GENIUS.

me: ....

He works long hours and six days a week and could not be happier.
Last night he took someone to dinner and a movie.
It is difficult to describe how these are great developments, but they are.

So, today - tonight, actually, a toast to Oldest.
This weekend he's throwing himself a huge barbecue at the beach.
Lucky at last.

Comments

Amy A. said…
This makes me so happy. My two oldest leave for college this weekend and I sometimes churn about what their future will hold (and mine, as a parent of adult children). Can't really put into words what I'm feeling, but this just gives me a little peace. :)
Paola said…
A beach barbecue!
Buon compleanno.
Ali said…
Happy Birthday to him! There's much to be said for walking your own road.
Anonymous said…
What a fine thing to have a child find their groove and flourish. Many happy returns of the day to your son!
RW said…
You know - I know you know - that this gives me solace.

happy birthday to oldest.
Anonymous said…
Oldest, happy birthday from jbhat. I hope it's an excellent year for you--it sounds like it's off to an auspicious start.
Have fun celebrating, you genius you!

jbhat
Anonymous said…
PS--bb, your blog is looking mighty fine these days. I like the flickr feature on the side. I hadn't minded the ads, but their absence is very appealing.

jbhat
Wendy said…
Genius is finding your own place in the world. Love to oldest.
Happy Birthday to Oldest (27?)
It gives you such a sense of peace when your kids are happy.
Scot said…
for Oldest,

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,


And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost

Happy Birthday!
Anonymous said…
To Oldest,
Happy, Happy Birthday!
May you have a year of joy!
Laura
Anonymous said…
Happy Birthday, Oldest! How wonderful to have a job you love and a place where people value and appreciate your talents. Wishing you many more great developments!

Erin H
Jen on the Edge said…
I am so happy that Oldest's life is going so well. Best birthday wishes to him, and you and K as well, because we all know that a child's birthday is also a celebratory event for the parents.
kmkat said…
Happy b'day to Oldest, who has found a place to plant himself where he can bloom! (That was rather an awkward sentence, but the sentiment was sincere.)
Suse said…
Happy (belated) birthday to the artistic genius :)