Wes my friend, Aunty Sins is exactly right. Things happen at odd times and sometimes in bunches.....but sometimes not at all as well. Some things that Tris is now doing are so much beyond what we ever expected and some others haven't happened that we did expect or had hoped for. Just take each one and milk the moments for all they're worth. I know you will so why am I telling you? The road always looks long but every now and again you catch a piece of autobahn in the midst of the cowpath.(:<))
So while I'm at it here..........
Tris had a great summer. He has always loved trucks and machinery and will spend hours on end watching them work. Several years ago the Village administration sent us a letter asking us to keep Tristan from following the garbage truck!!!! This past summer though.........
For the past few years I have allowed him to watch when work is being done somewhere as long as I know and the owners and workers okay it. I have had to track him down on numerous occasions and apoplogize to someone. But they have always said the same thing....that Tris stayed out of the way and they loved having him around. He does kinda' have that effect on people. In any case Karen and I have worried to death about him but the "call of the machinery" from a lawn mower to a cement truck to a backhoe has been far too strong. We are so grateful to have decided to live in this little village............
Early in the summer I went out looking for him as he'd been gone awhile and found he and his trusty bike sitting toether and watching the street and water depatment guys use the backhoe to replace some lines. I talked to Rick and Byron and they both said he was "no problem" and always stayed out of the way. A few days later he came home with a bright orange new safety vest. It was immediately his most cherished possesion. There are about 8 guys in the street and water gang and they decided that if Tris was going to be around, he could help! So off he'd go each day "to work." They let him sweep and all sorts of things....even gave him a bit of lap time in the backhoe. I went out one day and found them and thanked them all, especially Rick and Byron, for doing this. Again, they said no problem and began telling me stories of things he'd said and done.
About a week later the railroad crew came to town and spent a week working on the crossing with our street guys. Sure enough, Tris comes home with safety goggles and a real hard hat from Norfolk Southern!!! I think Byron then fixed him up with some old gloves as well. You had to see it!! Here was this little boy all rigged out and hanging out with the big guys!!! If we were away, as soon as we came home he would put on his vest, helmet, glasses, and gloves and head out in search of the crew. Other days he'd simply get up and "go to work."
At the local gossip shop I'd talk to some of the Street and Water gang and they were really getting a kick out of having him around and indeed as I listened I knew they were telling the truth. An ex-mayor said to Rick, "Hell Rick, I think he's ready to take your job!".......and Rick laughed and agreed. It was wonderful to hear how much these men really did enjoy Tris....and watched out for him as well. Some would think we are awful parents.....maybe we wre. But the day I drove past them all sitting on the curb drinking cokes, Tris right in the middle and "dressed to the nines" in the proper attire, I felt more secure about Tristan's ability to make his way in the world.
A few months ago I saw the movie "Radio" for the first time. If you haven't seen it, do so. You'll see much of my son in James "Radio" Kennedy.
Mario, keep all that stuff in New York and SINS....the friggin' turkey is right above the computer on the shelf and that damn clock is on the wall. AND if anyone puts batteries in it, I will hunt them down and commit mayhem upon them!!!