A special day

A few weeks back, on one of our mornings out together, the man of the house and I ventured into the Oxfam Shop, which by the way, is a favourite haunt of mine. Everything in there is simply beautiful. You can often find me hovering and salivating over the musical instruments. As I was looking around at the displays of carved wooden boxes, I spied this book:

I thought, hey what a cool looking book. I figured the bubster would really love this, if not now, in a few years. I also really like the DK company's bright photographic presentation. So with a smile on my face, I picked it up to start leafing through. It starts with the Americas, then goes to Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australasia. I loved it!

As I handled the cover, the book fell open to this page:

Take a good look at it. Click on it if you want to see it bigger. See the blond boy? He's ten years old. His name is Søren. He loves riding his bike to school, playing football and guitar.

I don't often cry really. I just don't. I used to cry a lot. But now, I sometimes feel as though I've cried all the tears that have been allotted to me. I'm dried up. But seeing this blond boy.......well. At first I was startled, then amazed. I stood there going huh.... huh..... over and over. Then I felt that familiar downward spiral and it hit me like a wave. Out of no where sprang this fountain of tears and I just quietly sobbed and sobbed, right there in the Oxfam shop. "Look. Look...." I'm not a pretty, delicate crier, dabbing at my watery eyes with a hand embroidered hankie. My face gets all red and twisted and snot pours from my nose. I'm not noisy though. Just how it is I guess.

I announced, "We have to get this book." I then took a deep breath, marched up to the counter, wet, red face and all and stammered, "I'll take this." The attendant didn't say a thing, just rang me up and out we went.

Our Søren turned 9 years old today. Today is his birthday. I have no idea what 9 looks like. Now I do. It's only one year less than 10 so it must be similar. I will certainly know what 10 looks like next year. But I think it must be very close. I always expected our Søren to be the patient, thoughtful type - he just seemed that way to me. He'd have to be, with the bubster trailing his every move. My god, wouldn't he just have worshiped him.....

Happy 9th Birthday, Søren Dennehy. We bought a tree for you today. The bubster picked out a cake for you at the shops. Although he wanted to eat it right away, we persuaded him that it would taste better after dinner. We lit the candles, sang happy birthday and pulled the poppers. Thank you for letting us see what 9 looks like.

You may visit this post from last year's birthday to see some funny vintage photos.