Happy Birthday to Sam the Man!

With it officially still being his birthday, I'd like to devote this blog entry to Samo. Sam the Man.

So Sam, it's finally your turn! Hard to believe that 15 years have gone by since you joined our family. Sometimes you lament the fact that by the time you got in on the act, the family had slowed down its pace as far as those restless traveling years. This may be true, but on the other hand, when you think about it, you've been lucky to have so many older sibs who doted on you from the moment you came into the world. You've been carried around in so many loving arms, you've had more support than any of your older sibs - which I realize could also be seen as more people trying to tell you what to do!

But look how you've come out of it, now that you're a high school student: here you are, with more criteria and a broader understanding about life and human nature than many I'll bet, since you've had examples of all types of personalities, and attitudes, as well as a variety of human strengths and weaknesses to examine during your growing years. It's made you a very discerning person, someone who can see things others miss because they're usually focused on only one dimension, whereas you have a sort of 3-dimensional way of looking at things - in, on, and around!

Of course that could be partly due to the fact that you're a Libra - a sign which fits you perfectly. Balance - that's what you're all about!

And you know, that goes for the physical (the way you're a "natural" at any sport you take on) as well as the mental and emotional levels. I know we sometimes get on your back when you react too feverishly about something ("la vena! la vena!" remember?), but most of the time, you're the one who keeps the rest of us in line!! How many times have two or more of us been in an intense debate over an issue accelerating to the level of potential explosion, only to be brought back to earth with one of your perfectly centered observations. You are blessed with insight and irrefutable logic and those are two wonderful things to have!

When you were younger, I remember writing you a birthday message in which I likened you to a private detective. You would find things others believed lost, or you knew where something was when someone was looking for it - even if there was no reason why you should have known. You just seemed to always observe the order of things and file it all away in your mind so that when others needed information pertaining to one thing or another, you would have it! Over the years, you've developed that asset even more and have stepped in to become someone Car and I truly count on. We love knowing that our "baby" is a go-getter and always ready to help when needed.

Happy Birthday, dearest son of mine! Thank you for filling my life with all your zest and energy and letting me be part of your explorations... by bike, through music, with English; you've shown me that you can persevere through it all... do you realize how far you've come?

Now all you've got to do is be ever ready and willing to reach for your goals as they appear! That's my wish for you.

By the way, if you're thinking that one of those goals is driving, please take pity on me and be gentle... At least you get to start up the engines and warm them up! We've got a whole year to get to the point of solo driving, right?