This past weekend, I got to spend half of a Saturday hanging around with my 16.5 yr old. We attended 'Junior Day' at Emerson College in Boston.
My son wants to pursue a BFA in Technical theater and Stage design. I am enjoying the man my once little boy is growing into. While he has those moments were I want to strangle him.... he mostly is a young man of integrity, honesty, and compassion who posseses a quick wit and a great sense of humor.

We started our morning dashing to the car in the pouring rain as thunder pealed and lightening lit up the dark morning skies. We drove as far as the T station in Quincy and jumped onto the red line. I had a nice conversation with my son on the ride in. We stopped at JFK station and a homeless man boarded our car. He immediately went into his begging mode asking for spare change so he could eat today.
As I listened to this man and tried not to make eye contact (as I learned years ago was an invitation to be badgered for money), I couldn't help but think of the movie "Conversations With God" and how Neale Walsch felt so very invisible when he was homeless. My heart began aching for the blight of this man and then I could hear in my head the verse to a song from church...
"What so ever you do for the least of my people, that you do unto me."
I began to rummage through my backpack looking for the apple I'd thrown in the bottom. Patrick turned and saw me digging and said "Mom no don't, I know this man, he comes on the train every day and panhandles and if you give him food he gets mad and begins yelling at train riders." I put my apple aside. The man came up to us and asked for a dollar and sat across from us. I noticed someone had given him a balance bar and although he had opened it, he only nibbled it here and there, not to hungrily might I add. When did my little boy grow up to posess such street smarts?
The rest of our morning was unevetnful. We enjoyed hearing all that Emerson had to offer at $40,000.00 a year....ka ching!! And the day turned out to be a beautifully warm and sunny day.
Patrick left me to get over to his school for play practice (after stopping at the school's book store where I bought Patrick an Emerson Tshirt) and I rode the rest of the ride home alone thinking of that roly poly tow head whose little voice I can still conjur up in my mind. Time is racing forward and I am treasuring days like these that make me stop and see who they are becoming.
3 comments:
Technical theater and stage design? Cool beans! :-) Tell him I approve whole-heartedly!
Is Emerson where he really wants to go? Or is it just the first stop in the school shopping experience??
First choice!
Lisa, You write beautifully.
The past few times we have been togehter with Pat, I too have seen a very mature, loving, [funny] young man! I am sure Tom is very proud!
Love
Diane
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