Light Speed

    Last night my husband and I were discussing what we did for Tracy's birthday last year, I said it was the cowboy party, Reed said it was an army theme.  Actually the cowboy party was for his third birthday and we had the army party when he was in third grade.  I guess our dates were a little off,  we weren't talking about last year--it was yesterday.  If Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus, their offspring are racing through the galaxy at light speed.  Not only is my body malfunctioning randomly, but now my mind is playing tricks on me, making 24 years seem like 24 hours. 
     Of course there is a sense of relief in knowing our children turned out okay in spite of limited genetic potential and very imperfect parenting, but why did they have to grow up so fast?  Tracy was generous enough to live with us until he was 23, and I consider those extra years a bonus, probably undeserved.  I look at Trace and see his father's skills for fixing and building and the basic life competence that I admire so much, but where do I fit in?  What traits of mine are in him?  Perhaps a touch of humor, but not enough to thoroughly warp him.  Mercy, perhaps, in his heart toward others.  Like me, tough talk but gentle ways.  Guitar playing?  Neither of us can take credit for his muscular build, Reed was a toothpick when I met him and I considered myself normal, sized at least.  And where did that incredible smile come from?  I was my orthodontist's worse case scenario demo for potential customers.
     For his gift we bought him a Husky top box to mount on the Snap On toolbox he uses at work, but I warned him they would never successfully mate.  24 years ago I had a baby boy, or was it yesterday?