He has always been tall, and along the way he grew a head of light blonde hair, so that he resembled a combination of my Daniel and Davis relatives. He has Stephen's laid back personality and my sense of humor. I don't know where he got the big feet. Suffice it to say, he's grown into a unique young man.
So every April 15th, we light some candles and enjoy some cake and ice cream--a welcome treat after juggling all those W-2s and 1099's--and wish a happy birthday to one swell tax deduction. So today's post reflects on fifteen years of Lawson's mark on this world:
For Lawson's first birthday, Davis made him a cake, and Lawson would have liked to eat some of it, but there seemed to be some discussion as to whether to light the candles. Lawson waited patiently for a decision, all the while knowing he would have been able to blow out those candles quicker if he'd lit them himself.
Even at one, he was smart beyond his years--rather, his year--but he was still chill enough to let me do his hair like a Sleestak.
By the time he was two, he'd grown more hair. And he'd decided to make more of an impact on the world. So he became a superhero. And he taught his grandfather how to drive a tractor.
But saving the world wasn't really Lawson's style. He preferred to stay close to home. So during his third year he took a summer job washing cars.
Still, every now and then, the world still needed his help--like the time Bops got lost at the farm. We thought we'd never see her again, but thank goodness Lawson went out and found her and brought her home.
During his fourth year, Lawson decided to become a train.
But once he realized the schedule was too stressful, he gave up the railroad, preferring to get around by bike. Once he took the training wheels off, there was no stopping him.
In fact, when he didn't show up for dinner one day, we had to send Davis out to look for him. He finally caught up with Lawson in Highlands, NC.
By the time he was five, Lawson was in high demand. In fact, the City of Savannah threw a parade for him (well, sort of). Notoriety wasn't his style, though. Lawson's always been the kind to prefer relaxing with a cold one with his dad.
The sixth year brought school, lost teeth, and a penchant for gambling. At Aunt Sabra's house, he won the poker tournament, and on our trip to Sanibel, he won the weekly crab race (and on his 21st birthday, we're taking him to Vegas)!
Year seven marked his first communion. But more importantly, he took some time during the summer to master his sculpting and chiseling skills.
Year eight was the year of the water. A master on water skis, Lawson thrilled spectators in Georgia and South Carolina. Alas, because of his age, we would not allow him to perform at Callaway Gardens.
He told me I had to let him go at some point, but I just wasn't ready at the time.
During Lawson's ninth year, he made a big splash, not only as a master jumper off Aunt Kelley's dock, but also as baker.
At the decade mark, we noticed Lawson was attracting too much attention with his X-ray vision, so we got him a pair of glasses, just to help him blend in with the regular crowd. But they had little effect. Lawson's coolness could not be disguised. In fact, Davis was so impressed with his brother that his hair fell out!
To his credit, Lawson offered to loan him a hat.
Lawson's eleventh year took him to the Big Apple, where he took in a Broadway play, toured the Met, enjoyed some fine food and saved the Statue of Liberty from falling down. Thank goodness he arrived when he did!
By the time he was twelve, Lawson was the idol of all the teachers. He amazed them with his sharp critical thinking skills and willingness to challenge himself in all subjects. One prime example was his science fair experiment, where he investigated whether the different chokes on a shotgun had an effect on the spread of the shot.
The result: The choke makes no difference at all. Hunters worldwide rest easier now with that information.
Thirteen was a big year for Lawson, and he celebrated the way any teenager would want to--with an homage to his favorite movie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. With his five closest friends, Lawson ditched school and took in the cultural sites of Savannah, Georgia, ending the day with a refreshing swim in Betz Creek.
But alas, by the time fourteen came around, it was time to say goodbye to middle school. Lawson graduated top of his class, and the teachers went into the back room and cried. On high school. Lawson's freshman year introduced him to ROTC, lacrosse, and his first date.
And now that we've turned the corner of that fifteenth year, we're looking at driving lessons, contact lenses, maybe a summer job. He no longer wants to be a train, but Lawson's still a superhero in our eyes, and we look forward to seeing what the next fifteen years will bring
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