Reflections of Christopher.....

We asked our son Chris for help.  It's not lost on us that he and Tash may not be as available soon, once Joey arrives, and so we reached out with our request.  We were picking up a new fridge for the basement which was too heavy for us and we had chosen a new mirror for the living room which needed to be hung.  Chris and Tash were quick to respond with their willingness to come by and assist.  We are so grateful for the generosity.  

After a quick "pee break" for Mommy Tash at our place, we met them at Urban Barn where Chris was able to haul the mirror out for us with no assistance.  Tash waited in the truck to protect our purchase, and Chris joined us in Home Depot.  While Ky tried to locate a cart, Chris and I searched the isles for "EZ anchors" which he said we needed to hang the heavy mirror.  He also assisted with finding butane for our mini blow torch (we've having dinner guests and I had made Crème Brulee which needed finishing).  Once Ky arrived with the cart he hauled the mini (but large) fridge off the floor onto the cart and we cautiously made our way to the check out.

The Dodge Ram easily accommodated our purchases and once again Chris hauled everything himself into the truck box and positioned the containers for the short trip to our place.  Once in our driveway, he reversed the order; unloading everything and hauling inside.

A minor hiccup when the mirror was pulled from the packaging.  There was a small crack.  We took a short break to engage with Ky on the topic of inconsistent of packaging.  "Why," she bemoaned, "when shipping kids plastic toys from China do then strap them down, pack them in cardboard, stuff them with packing popcorn and seal them up ~ and yet with a F'ing breakable mirror - they use a skinny, shitty piece of Styrofoam and a thin cardboard box!?!?!"  

A call back to the store gained assurance that they would re-order the mirror and exchange the new one with the cracked one once it arrives.  That elicited an additional commentary from Ky and storage of the F'ing mirror in the meantime.  After encouragement from Chris, Tash and I she conceded that we could store the mirror on the wall since the crack was so small, and then, it would be easy to hang the new one exactly where Chris had anchored and measured already.  Although she wasn't happy about it she gave in.

I'm sure you can't even find the crack!!

Hanging art, or large mirrors requires patience, preciseness and expertise.  Chris possesses all of these qualities and more, and I watched with a full heart from the kitchen as he worked with Ky, guiding the installation of the mirror.  Measuring once, measuring again, holding it up, taking it down, holding it up again, and all the while responding patiently to Ky's angst about the F'ing crack; LOL.

Lunch was next - as per the request, we'd laid out a buffet of cheeses, veggies, dips, pate, mango salad and assorted crackers.  We chatted over lunch, hearing stories from Chris and Tash about what's gone on since we last saw them.  We marvel always witnessing our kids share their experience of pregnancy and their thoughts about becoming parents.  We could not be any more proud of Chris and Tash as they engage in parenthood with the same thoughtful, loving approach they have embodied throughout their lives.

Lunch finished, Chris found sliding the fridge downstairs wasn't too tough and he and Ky positioned it behind the bar.  After the old fridge was packed in his truck along with all the packaging it was time for a game of poker :)

Waving good bye to our kids (and our 50 bucks ~ yes he beat our ass at poker), I reflect on this youngest son of ours.  Like the mirror he just hung for us, he's been roughed up just a bit by life, and in spite of that, he reflects back to the world only beauty and sparkle.  

He's complex, unique, and generous ~ our joy.