Hello and welcome to a pretty nice Saturday here at the Wannaskan Almanac. Today is January 25th which means Happy Birthday to my niece and uncle!
We're celebrating this weekend as we have another licensed driver in the household.
Friday, the Second Oldest and I headed over to Roseau for the big test. On the way over from Warroad, the son asked, "So, is there anything I need to know about the car? Like where the parking brake is and how to adjust the mirrors?"
The previous night, I had said, "Tomorrow's the big day! You take the test! A defining moment!"
When I mentioned we were also going to renew his passport and - Good news! - because he's 16, the new passport would be valid for 10 years, I said, "Just think, the next time you need to renew your passport you'll be 26. That's almost 30! Can you imagine being almost 30?"
"Another life-defining moment!" The Oldest chimed in.
Yes, with the Oldest herself turning 18 - Voter registration! Selective Service registration!, Gambling! (She'd never buy cigarettes) - there's been a lot of discussion at our house around those milestone moments that mark the path of a person's life journey.
Coupled with the recent rollover to the new year, 2020, this is perhaps an especially heightened topic. Two weeks ago, I blogged about New Year's resolutions and my decision to "keep on keeping on" and what I saw Friday, as my son stood in line, passing the time on his phone, awaiting this imminent moment that would either be a marker of success or a disappointment, is that all of these moments - leaps or pushes of doing - are badges of courage - the things we know we have to say yes to whether we're ready or not.
The throat thickens, the heartbeat quickens, your mind tells you simultaneously that you can and can't do this, that you're both ready and not.
Milestone moments. It seems they come a mile a minute in the life of a teenager. Taking Driver's Ed., that first time behind the wheel, passing Driver's Ed. Trying a new extra-curricular, that first varsity letter, quitting an extra-curricular. Getting stellar grades, fantastically failing at the good grade thing. First really hard class that threatens the perfect 4.0, the first class you fall in love with and know this is your jam, your first class you abhor with a fervor that, if you were in charge, would be stricken from the graduation requirements. Your first hoop you jump because you have to, your first staying up late because you have to finish your homework. First formal dance, first kiss, first loves, first break-ups, first hard truths with BFFs, first hard choices to do the drugs - or not. First inklings of flight, first desires to be independent. First job, first hiring, first firing, first good boss, first bad boss. First true friend, first false friend. First defiance, first intentional decision to do the opposite of what your parents advised. Your first paycheck, your first bill, your first car, your first flat tire, your first dead battery.
Add to this pile of firsts the inevitable questions, "What do you want to be when you grow up?", "What do you want to do after high school?", "Where are you going to college?", "What are you going to do if you don't go to college?", and "How are you going to pay for it?"
As I watched my son return from the driver's test, I asked my friend, "What do you think? Do you think he passed?" We both noted a spring in his step. When are eyes met, a small grin. "I passed," he said quietly enough, had I not had my hearing aids, I wouldn't have heard.
His smile grew into a grin and he shared his plans. "Now I can go to my friends' house. Now I can drive to school. Now I can sleep until 7:30."
On the way back to Warroad, I suggested he drop me off at home and he drive back to school - his first solo mission. As we passed by the Holiday, another driver pulled out of the gas station parking lot and drove right into us, crunching the headlight and bumper on the driver's side.
Another life-defining moment.
You never know when they come.
We're celebrating this weekend as we have another licensed driver in the household.
Friday, the Second Oldest and I headed over to Roseau for the big test. On the way over from Warroad, the son asked, "So, is there anything I need to know about the car? Like where the parking brake is and how to adjust the mirrors?"
The previous night, I had said, "Tomorrow's the big day! You take the test! A defining moment!"
When I mentioned we were also going to renew his passport and - Good news! - because he's 16, the new passport would be valid for 10 years, I said, "Just think, the next time you need to renew your passport you'll be 26. That's almost 30! Can you imagine being almost 30?"
"Another life-defining moment!" The Oldest chimed in.
Yes, with the Oldest herself turning 18 - Voter registration! Selective Service registration!, Gambling! (She'd never buy cigarettes) - there's been a lot of discussion at our house around those milestone moments that mark the path of a person's life journey.
Coupled with the recent rollover to the new year, 2020, this is perhaps an especially heightened topic. Two weeks ago, I blogged about New Year's resolutions and my decision to "keep on keeping on" and what I saw Friday, as my son stood in line, passing the time on his phone, awaiting this imminent moment that would either be a marker of success or a disappointment, is that all of these moments - leaps or pushes of doing - are badges of courage - the things we know we have to say yes to whether we're ready or not.
The throat thickens, the heartbeat quickens, your mind tells you simultaneously that you can and can't do this, that you're both ready and not.
Milestone moments. It seems they come a mile a minute in the life of a teenager. Taking Driver's Ed., that first time behind the wheel, passing Driver's Ed. Trying a new extra-curricular, that first varsity letter, quitting an extra-curricular. Getting stellar grades, fantastically failing at the good grade thing. First really hard class that threatens the perfect 4.0, the first class you fall in love with and know this is your jam, your first class you abhor with a fervor that, if you were in charge, would be stricken from the graduation requirements. Your first hoop you jump because you have to, your first staying up late because you have to finish your homework. First formal dance, first kiss, first loves, first break-ups, first hard truths with BFFs, first hard choices to do the drugs - or not. First inklings of flight, first desires to be independent. First job, first hiring, first firing, first good boss, first bad boss. First true friend, first false friend. First defiance, first intentional decision to do the opposite of what your parents advised. Your first paycheck, your first bill, your first car, your first flat tire, your first dead battery.
Add to this pile of firsts the inevitable questions, "What do you want to be when you grow up?", "What do you want to do after high school?", "Where are you going to college?", "What are you going to do if you don't go to college?", and "How are you going to pay for it?"
As I watched my son return from the driver's test, I asked my friend, "What do you think? Do you think he passed?" We both noted a spring in his step. When are eyes met, a small grin. "I passed," he said quietly enough, had I not had my hearing aids, I wouldn't have heard.
His smile grew into a grin and he shared his plans. "Now I can go to my friends' house. Now I can drive to school. Now I can sleep until 7:30."
On the way back to Warroad, I suggested he drop me off at home and he drive back to school - his first solo mission. As we passed by the Holiday, another driver pulled out of the gas station parking lot and drove right into us, crunching the headlight and bumper on the driver's side.
Another life-defining moment.
You never know when they come.
On This Day
Historic Highlights (credits)
1977 - The world's first solar power plant is opened
The solar furnace in Odeillo, France was the first power plant providing alternative energy.
1971 - Idi Amin seizes power in Uganda
The dictator's rule (1971 - 1979) was characterized by human right abuse, political repression, and corruption.
1947 - The first arcade game is patented
Thomas Goldsmith's “Cathode ray tube amusement device” is considered the ancestor of video games.
1924 - The first Winter Olympics begin
The I Olympic Winter Games were held in Chamonix, France.
1919 - The League of Nations is founded
It is the predecessor of the United Nations and the first international organization devoted to maintaining world peace.
The solar furnace in Odeillo, France was the first power plant providing alternative energy.
1971 - Idi Amin seizes power in Uganda
The dictator's rule (1971 - 1979) was characterized by human right abuse, political repression, and corruption.
1947 - The first arcade game is patented
Thomas Goldsmith's “Cathode ray tube amusement device” is considered the ancestor of video games.
1924 - The first Winter Olympics begin
The I Olympic Winter Games were held in Chamonix, France.
1919 - The League of Nations is founded
It is the predecessor of the United Nations and the first international organization devoted to maintaining world peace.
Happy Birthday to You!🎶
1981 - Alicia Keys, American singer-songwriter, pianist, actress
1933 - Corazon Aquino, Filipino politician, 11th President of the Philippines
1913 - Witold Lutosławski, Polish composer, conductor
1882 - Virginia Woolf, English author, critic
1759 - Robert Burns, Scottish poet
1933 - Corazon Aquino, Filipino politician, 11th President of the Philippines
1913 - Witold Lutosławski, Polish composer, conductor
1882 - Virginia Woolf, English author, critic
1759 - Robert Burns, Scottish poet
Remembering You
2005 - Philip Johnson, American architect, designed the IDS Center, PPG Place
1982 - Mikhail Suslov, Soviet politician
1954 - M. N. Roy, Indian activist, theorist
1947 - Al Capone, American gangster
389 - Gregory of Nazianzus, Turkish archbishop, theologian
1982 - Mikhail Suslov, Soviet politician
1954 - M. N. Roy, Indian activist, theorist
1947 - Al Capone, American gangster
389 - Gregory of Nazianzus, Turkish archbishop, theologian
Enjoy your milestone moments, drive safely, and make it a great Saturday!
Kim
The old principle, to every action there is a reaction, applies here. If one turns your examples of life-defining moments 180 degrees, one finds that for each beginning, an end is certain to follow. Just sayin' Maybe that's for another post. Maybe I'll write it. In any case, nice story about the second oldest's adventures. JP Savage
ReplyDeleteUff da! An accident before the ink's dry on his license. Oh well, he got his first accident out of the way. Excellent post.
ReplyDelete