Reflections on an 18th Birthday Party

Well, as his Grandpa noted this morning, "he is no longer a boy." When he called to invited us, he said dress was business casual. And so we came ~ actually Grandpa wore an amazing shirt and when I commented on it, he said, "well, this is what the young man requested."

We were met in the yard by a running goddess, whose picture you see below. Dressed in a long maroon gown and glowing like a true hostess. I took pictures quickly before the crowd arrived and so I wouldn't forget like I did on Christmas day.

The Birthday Boy - or young man as it were - and his Mama Susan. Both of us are dressed in our Christmas finery ~ gifts from his aunt and uncle. He was the perfect honoree, mixing equally well with teachers and adult friends as well as with his class mates and peers.
~ the three Grands. I was so proud of the younger two. They moved with grace and ease among the gathering guests. It was not until much later in the evening that there began to be some running and a little bit of noise ~ as if they had held it in just too long and it had to Burst out of them. And even then, the burst was gentle and well handled by their mom.
Please, note that this young man has his arm around his sister. Then note that our older young man has his arm around his Mama Susan. We learn from our role models. :)

The teens came dressed as requested. Young men in suits, vests, even one more tie. Young women came looking like they were in their late 20s instead of late teens. Older adults did as Grandpa and took the dress code seriously. Conversation was divided between teens and adults and Grand saw to it that there was some mixing. I moved from one group of adults to another enjoying whatever conversation came up and especially that in praise of Grand and his parents.

Mom and Dad had catered a lovely dinner: chili, macaroni and cheese (which quickly became chili mac for some of us), two different quiche, crab meat dip, homemade guacamole and humuus, a Huge platter of fresh veggies, chips, other dips and pecan pie. Yum!!! People ate with gusto and there was probably very little left over for the rest of the holiday weekend.

The teens were polite, fun, interesting ~ and I overheard conversation relating to the college decisions of next year and some of that struggle. I know everyone of their moms, including my own daughter, could tell the teenaged stories. No one is perfect. And . . . when you see them like this, and recognize that they are the becoming adults, hear the conversations that matter, listen to a song sung by the young woman who wrote it, hear the medieval drinking song with gusto by Grand and a friend, watch them meet and greet and share with each other the fun of being together, you know there is Great Hope for the world. The "next" generation is almost here.

Eighteen: a time for moving out, making decisions, gathering together, no longer being a "boy". I was thrilled and honored to be invited to a gathering of "those who have meant the most".