Yesterday

Was Brandon's birthday. We took him out to dinner. Just he and Albert and I. The day was very ordinary and very extraordinary all at once. We did simple things. I let him get a Frappe from Mcdonald's. I took him to Walmart and let him get silly string. We baited Drew into walking into Drew's silly string trap (Brandon hid behind the big van while Drew walked to the mail box and then Brandon jumped out and sprayed him!) When Albert came home from work, we took him out to eat and then to Walmart (yes, again) to pick out his present, an AirSoft gun. And this morning, we have little Airsoft pellets being sprayed all across the house and the yard, and boys chasing each other with the gun. A normal birthday. Next Friday will be his party, complete with a sleepover with some of his school friends, and his cousin.

Yesterday, for me the day was amazing, precious and...normal. And at the end of the evening, while eating desert at the restaurant, it occured to me that we had enjoyed that day, just as...that day...as Brandon's birthday. Without thought of "making sure its grand incase its the last" in the back of our minds. We talked about next year's birthday without feeling like we were putting some sort of jinx on him. And then, we got him a mixed berry smoothie. Yes, from Mcdonald's. Yes, again.

What I didn't do was take any pictures. Don't really know why. The memory card wasn't in my camera so that was part of it, I guess. But mostly because I just enjoyed the flow of the day. It was so special and so ordinary and amazing. And my son just shot me as I type with a big puff of air from that darned Airsoft gun.

Brandon loved his birthday. His little eyes shine. He anticipates his special day each year, talking about it months in advance. Yesterday, he "announced" his birthday loudly in front of whoever was in ear shot and then when the person would say "oh, Happy Birthday", he'd pretend to be taken by suprise and would answer "Oh, well...thank you!" That's so him.

Sorry for the lack of pics. I'll make sure we get some next Friday at his sleepover.