Summer Review

A Simple Summer
With Some Simple Milestones
DJ-Centric

Earlier this year:
DJ: I’m almost as tall as you. <big smile on his face>
ME: Oh yeah.
DJ: This is a big deal in a boy’s life, to be as tall as his mom.
ME: Really? It is?
Not having been a boy, I asked a bunch of guys at HTG and they all paused for a moment and one by one, nodded their heads, yes. Yes, it is a big deal in a boy’s life to be as tall as his mom.
So I thought I would acknowledge this. And what speaks <Hey, congrats you got to be my height and looks like you are well on your way to being taller than me> than a super surprise?? I took him and his friend to Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom Huck Jam! They were soo stoked! It was fun for me too! I was most impressed by the motor cross riders. The stunts had me sitting on the edge of my seat! I like being the mom of a boy!

BMX riders, Skateboarders, and MotoCross riders

Pickle and DJ

Now he calls me ‘shorty’ and makes a big deal out of looking down at me.

***
Earlier this year we saw the Harlem Globetrotters. They mentioned that they were having a one-week basketball camp in the summer, so we signed DJ up.
He had a great time. Here he is with some of his Trotter instructors.

***
I read about this camp last year, but as it was only at a school near Wilshire Blvd and booked, so we were put on the list for this summer. Luckily they got a second location in Pasadena, much more do-able. So, the boy signed up to play drums… no experience necessary.

He had a great time!

The last day of the camp, they put on a ‘Rock Concert’ for family and friends, to play the song they created, and practiced all week. It was very cool. There were about 8 bands that played one song each. DJ was so jazzed about playing the drums. I kind of think that boys this age, should bang on things. Make noise, move their energy, emotions.
His girl-friend, J, joined us and afterwards we went to dinner.

It was our first ‘double date’ with DJ!

***
Another boy-centric treat… we went to the ComicCon! Taking the train down and back up, worked out very well. It made for a long day, but traveling by train is always fun. The boy was soo happy and grateful. One of the comic books we got is really funny. And clean funny, no weapons, blood, gore, aliens, etc. I hope it gets picked up by a distributor. It is called Kleeman and Mike.
They have some short animations on their site that are very well done. Put to music.This is my favorite comic from their comic book.
Next year, DJ wants to go for the whole week! OK… who wants to take him?

***
What says summer more than reading the 6th book of Harry Potter?
DJ read about 6 books this summer, all of which I made him write book reports on. Even the graphic comic novel! They were all his choice, except for Lord of the Flies.

At the beginning of summer, a mother of a kid in his class passed around via email a ‘Suggested Reading Lists’ and announced that she would be getting her kid to read books by rewarding him with an ice cream cone for every book report he handed in. I had that familiar feeling wash over me… the one of ‘Oh, I’m so sorry”.

***
August went by slowly. DJ's best friend returned from a trip, so there were more play dates, and pool time. DJ got very excited as his friend was applying to attend the same school as him. But just a few days ago, he found out that the application was being yanked by his mom as they have changed their plans. Instead they will buy a house in Oregon and move this fall/winter.
DJ was pretty crushed. Unfortunately, his class only has 2 other boys, so the pick’ins are slim. Picking a best friend is tricky. Even as adults! And to have one move hundreds of miles away… I feel for him.
He once asked me, “Will I be friends with my class mates after the 8th grade?” [his school only goes to 8th grade]
ME: That’s completely up to you. It requires you to want to. Call, write, make plans…
Which leads me to today’s PSA… have you made the effort recently to keep in touch with your friends? If not, pick up the phone and call someone. Make some plans. You’ll be happier for it.

***
The middle of August was a surprise birthday party for me! And part of that was a surprise visit for a few days from GiggleGirl?! AND!!! She turned 13 while she was here!!! So her choice was to go to Magic Mountain, and challenge herself on the roller coasters. So we did.

Lucky 13!

DJ was reluctant to go as he does not like roller coasters, but joined us as a good sport. It had been a number of years since I have been there so, I went, rather blindly. Besides the new rides added, it dawned on me that Magic Mountain is AA ABOUT the roller coasters. Every ride is a roller coaster. Duh!
GG and I went on a bunch of them. I, too, ahhhemm...challenged myself. DJ sat them all out.

***
DJ had a ‘Back to School Pool Party’ at his dad’s. He decided to ‘shave’ for it. [upper lip] I like it!

A few days later a classmate of his, had surgery to remove a tumor on her optical nerve. Since his class is small, only 14 kids, they are all pretty close. DJ seems to be handling the news in what I can only describe as ‘Typical Boy’ fashion.
DJ: She’s Okay- right? She’s alive, and she can still see, talk, hear, smell, feel, and walk. [what more am I to be feeling?]
I think what he needs to learn to say is: I’m glad and happy that she is okay. It’s a relief that she still has her senses.

Perhaps it is a perspective of youth, one in which your whole life is in front of you and its full of possibilities, with good and fantastical things. Reality, to the degree that death and tragedy filter your worldviews, is still a few years away. I think the news of this classmate’s brain tumor has been harder on the other parents in the class, than the kids. For myself, the news came on what was already a pretty crappy day. I could feel my anxiety creep up a notch. Just like that… Bam… this could be your life… turned upside down like that. It reaffirmed what I value in my life.

There were emails going around, asking for prayers, love and light. Since she is recovering so well, the emails now are thanking us for our prayers. It never ceases to amaze me that religious people assume a) they are right b) everyone else is religious too.
Later on, [that same day!], we found out that our dog; Thor; has bone cancer, and that it has metastasized. He is in pain. We will be putting him down soon. It’s sooo sad.
And can you believe this? On THAT SAME DAY, my stepbrother JR calls to say that his wife has just given birth to their first baby, a girl.

***
So Summer is ending with a lot of non-self-generated-drama. Whether self-generated or not, life is drama isn’t it? Life is messy, sticky, bloody, saying good-bye. Life is saying hello, another breath, and another day to live and love.


September 1, 2005	Summer Review A Simple Summer With Some Simple Milestones DJ-Centric Earlier this year: DJ: I’m almost as tall as you. <big smile on his face> ME: Oh yeah. DJ: This is a big deal in a boy’s life, to be as tall as his mom. ME: Really? It is? Not having been a boy, I asked a bunch of guys at HTG and they all paused for a moment and one by one, nodded their heads, yes. Yes, it is a big deal in a boy’s life to be as tall as his mom. So I thought I would acknowledge this. And what speaks <Hey, congrats you got to be my height and looks like you are well on your way to being taller than me> than a super surprise?? I took him and his friend to Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom Huck Jam! They were soo stoked! It was fun for me too! I was most impressed by the motor cross riders. The stunts had me sitting on the edge of my seat! I like being the mom of a boy! BMX riders, Skateboarders, and MotoCross riders Pickle and DJ Now he calls me ‘shorty’ and makes a big deal out of looking down at me. ***** Earlier this year we saw the Harlem Globetrotters. They mentioned that they were having a one-week basketball camp in the summer, so we signed DJ up. He had a great time. Here he is with some of his Trotter instructors. *** I read about this camp last year, but as it was only at a school near Wilshire Blvd and booked, so we were put on the list for this summer. Luckily they got a second location in Pasadena, much more do-able. So, the boy signed up to play drums… no experience necessary. He had a great time! The last day of the camp, they put on a ‘Rock Concert’ for family and friends, to play the song they created, and practiced all week. It was very cool. There were about 8 bands that played one song each. DJ was so jazzed about playing the drums. I kind of think that boys this age, should bang on things. Make noise, move their energy, emotions. His girl-friend, J, joined us and afterwards we went to dinner. It was our first ‘double date’ with DJ! *** Another boy-centric treat… we went to the ComicCon! Taking the train down and back up, worked out very well. It made for a long day, but traveling by train is always fun. The boy was soo happy and grateful. One of the comic books we got is really funny. And clean funny, no weapons, blood, gore, aliens, etc. I hope it gets picked up by a distributor. It is called Kleeman and Mike. They have some short animations on their site that are very well done. Put to music.This is my favorite comic from their comic book. Next year, DJ wants to go for the whole week! OK… who wants to take him? *** What says summer more than reading the 6th book of Harry Potter? DJ read about 6 books this summer, all of which I made him write book reports on. Even the graphic comic novel! They were all his choice, except for Lord of the Flies. At the beginning of summer, a mother of a kid in his class passed around via email a ‘Suggested Reading Lists’ and announced that she would be getting her kid to read books by rewarding him with an ice cream cone for every book report he handed in. I had that familiar feeling wash over me… the one of ‘Oh, I’m so sorry”. *** August went by slowly. DJ's best friend returned from a trip, so there were more play dates, and pool time. DJ got very excited as his friend was applying to attend the same school as him. But just a few days ago, he found out that the application was being yanked by his mom as they have changed their plans. Instead they will buy a house in Oregon and move this fall/winter. DJ was pretty crushed. Unfortunately, his class only has 2 other boys, so the pick’ins are slim. Picking a best friend is tricky. Even as adults! And to have one move hundreds of miles away… I feel for him. He once asked me, “Will I be friends with my class mates after the 8th grade?” [his school only goes to 8th grade] ME: That’s completely up to you. It requires you to want to. Call, write, make plans… Which leads me to today’s PSA… have you made the effort recently to keep in touch with your friends? If not, pick up the phone and call someone. Make some plans. You’ll be happier for it. *** The middle of August was a surprise birthday party for me! And part of that was a surprise visit for a few days from GiggleGirl?! AND!!! She turned 13 while she was here!!! So her choice was to go to Magic Mountain, and challenge herself on the roller coasters. So we did. Lucky 13! DJ was reluctant to go as he does not like roller coasters, but joined us as a good sport. It had been a number of years since I have been there so, I went, rather blindly. Besides the new rides added, it dawned on me that Magic Mountain is AA ABOUT the roller coasters. Every ride is a roller coaster. Duh! GG and I went on a bunch of them. I, too, ahhhemm...challenged myself. DJ sat them all out. ***** DJ had a ‘Back to School Pool Party’ at his dad’s. He decided to ‘shave’ for it. [upper lip] I like it! A few days later a classmate of his, had surgery to remove a tumor on her optical nerve. Since his class is small, only 14 kids, they are all pretty close. DJ seems to be handling the news in what I can only describe as ‘Typical Boy’ fashion. DJ: She’s Okay- right? She’s alive, and she can still see, talk, hear, smell, feel, and walk. [what more am I to be feeling?] I think what he needs to learn to say is: I’m glad and happy that she is okay. It’s a relief that she still has her senses. Perhaps it is a perspective of youth, one in which your whole life is in front of you and its full of possibilities, with good and fantastical things. Reality, to the degree that death and tragedy filter your worldviews, is still a few years away. I think the news of this classmate’s brain tumor has been harder on the other parents in the class, than the kids. For myself, the news came on what was already a pretty crappy day. I could feel my anxiety creep up a notch. Just like that… Bam… this could be your life… turned upside down like that. It reaffirmed what I value in my life. There were emails going around, asking for prayers, love and light. Since she is recovering so well, the emails now are thanking us for our prayers. It never ceases to amaze me that religious people assume a) they are right b) everyone else is religious too. Later on, [that same day!], we found out that our dog; Thor; has bone cancer, and that it has metastasized. He is in pain. We will be putting him down soon. It’s sooo sad. And can you believe this? On THAT SAME DAY, my stepbrother JR calls to say that his wife has just given birth to their first baby, a girl. ******* So Summer is ending with a lot of non-self-generated-drama. Whether self-generated or not, life is drama isn’t it? Life is messy, sticky, bloody, saying good-bye. Life is saying hello, another breath, and another day to live and love.
	© 2005 JoyJoyCafe