I have always felt blessed to have a daughter and a son. I knew Christopher was sent to balance out my life, to blend in some dirt and sweat with the ribbons and perfume, but it has never been more obvious than this past week. When our lives became focused on wedding plans, he was there to distract, to relieve stress, to make us laugh, and give us a guys point of view. He participated with sincerity, and not one ounce of jealousy at the time and attention that was being directed towards his sister. Yesterday he and I spent the day together...we had lunch and went Thrift store shopping, then stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few things for dinner and he cooked with me. He is so easy to be with. In the grocery, we ran into a neighbor we have known for years, and she stopped to give us Congratulations, as she had heard about Elizabeth's engagement. Christopher stood next to me and smiled, used ALL the manners he had ever been taught (he can be CHARMING when he wants to be), and as I looked at him, wearing the brown shirt he looks so handsome in, I have never loved him more. I felt so proud to be his mother. It was one of those moments that made everything I have done for him in the past 20 years seem worthwhile. In the midst of his sister's moment, he was the one shining. I thought about all the wedding plans we have been making, plans to make things perfect for just ONE day...and I thought how his very existence makes my life perfect EVERY DAY. He has been home from college for one month. He goes back tomorrow. I miss him already.
