Stupendous Saturday
Everyone deserves a day, a very special day, where everything aligns perfectly. A day that makes you realize just how good life is. Ben had his day last Saturday and it was awesome to be on the sidelines watching my boy shine. So forgive a proud Mama as I share Ben's "best day ever".
Saturday was all sun, blue skies and for the first time all spring, a lovely gentle breeze instead of cold, gale force winds. Ben's first stop of the day was the Cohoes Relays, an annual spring track meet. He ran the first leg in the Sprint Medley Relay (400, 200, 200, 800) and they won, setting a new school record. Watching Ben hit the final turn of his leg as he pulled away from the field was thrilling.
Two hours later the quartet won again, this time the 4 x 400. Ben ran the third leg and a personal record. I loaded a jubilant boy in the car 15 minutes later. The second part of his day was scheduled to start in just over an hour. It was prom night and he had a beautiful girl waiting.
We got home at 2:55pm and he needed to be at Sarah's house by four. I left him to shower and shave and drove to pick up her flowers, arriving home by 3:30 to find a bewildered, but good smelling boy in the doorway with just boxers on. "I can't figure out how to put any of this on. What are these things?" he said holding up the suspenders. Surely he could manage the pants by himself, I thought, hiding my smile. I patiently guided him through the process of putting on a three piece tux with suspenders, cuff links and tie. By 3:55pm we were out the door and on our way.
With one last look back, mouthing "isn't she beautiful?", my boy left with his girl to continue his stupendous Saturday. I watched him go. Walking back to my car I was filled with joy, but also slightly sad. He didn't need me and it was bittersweet. I remembered the day I left him at his first day of kindergarten. He did the same thing, a little glance back, a wave and he was gone. He had told me his plans for after the prom and we had discussed my expectations. I didn't text or call him that night, instead I trusted both my instincts and Ben. I knew he would be home in the morning. And he was, safe, tired and happy, still basking in the glow of "his best day ever".
Saturday was all sun, blue skies and for the first time all spring, a lovely gentle breeze instead of cold, gale force winds. Ben's first stop of the day was the Cohoes Relays, an annual spring track meet. He ran the first leg in the Sprint Medley Relay (400, 200, 200, 800) and they won, setting a new school record. Watching Ben hit the final turn of his leg as he pulled away from the field was thrilling.
Two hours later the quartet won again, this time the 4 x 400. Ben ran the third leg and a personal record. I loaded a jubilant boy in the car 15 minutes later. The second part of his day was scheduled to start in just over an hour. It was prom night and he had a beautiful girl waiting.
We got home at 2:55pm and he needed to be at Sarah's house by four. I left him to shower and shave and drove to pick up her flowers, arriving home by 3:30 to find a bewildered, but good smelling boy in the doorway with just boxers on. "I can't figure out how to put any of this on. What are these things?" he said holding up the suspenders. Surely he could manage the pants by himself, I thought, hiding my smile. I patiently guided him through the process of putting on a three piece tux with suspenders, cuff links and tie. By 3:55pm we were out the door and on our way.
Sarah took our breath away with her beauty when she came down the stairs. Ben hugged her and I heard him murmur in her ear, "You look beautiful." Then the endless posing for pictures began; first at Sarah's house, then friends, and then the plaza before the kids could finally break away from their hovering, smothering, picture taking parents and head for the actual prom site at 11 North Pearl for dinner (chicken parm, Ben's favorite) and dancing.
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