12 Year Old Space Cadet

"Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year: The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again." ~Menachem Mendel Schneerson

Time and the planet have circled 'round again, William is now 12. Birthdays do seem magical to me. A moment to reflect on the time I have had with my first born. The journey we are making together, yet separately. He is getting to be so mature, so reflective and aware of the world around him. He seems suddenly and intensely concerned about the welfare of others and his impact on them. Maturing physically and emotionally. However, charmingly, his interests aren't maturing as quickly as he is. Hence the magic of his 12 year old birthday party.

William thought for a month solid about what he wanted to do with his friends this year to celebrate his birth. Hotel sleepover? Nah. Lagoon? Nope. Laser Tag? Nein. Space Camp? PERFECT. He and 5 of his friends headed to Pleasant Grove to the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center. "Space Education" is a term that is used lightly. It is more like a Star Trek episode reenactment. Heaven to my 12 year old wonderfully cool and proudly self-proclaimed "geek". Bill and I dropped them all off. 3 hours later, picked them all up, fed them pizza and cupcakes and sent them home. (All except one good friend who is staying for an impromptu sleepover.)
Romney knew just what to get his brother for his special day, a Star Trek phaser gun to be used during his Space Camp adventure. William was thrilled. We got him a month's worth of fencing lessons. For those of you who have been counting, Bill and I lasted 12 years before caving to our son's cries for toy weapons and fighting lessons. Not a bad run, I would say.

A wonderful birthday for a wonderful son. A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. May we all enjoy the trip.