The electronic age.
Nothing to do with my age, but it allowed me to connect with my second born son while he is on the other side of the earth, in Vietnam, 2 days ago. He graciously (cough cough) reminded me that as of today, June 22, 2011, he is exactly half of my age. Thanks honey, I can always use a reminder like that. ( I don't think he knows that my awareness springs up with the naturally highlighted roots of my hair that scream to be coloured anew every 5 weeks or so!) So , back atcha Kal, these first 3 photos are when you were about 1/2 of the age you are now. Just sayin'!
Nothing to do with my age, but it allowed me to connect with my second born son while he is on the other side of the earth, in Vietnam, 2 days ago. He graciously (cough cough) reminded me that as of today, June 22, 2011, he is exactly half of my age. Thanks honey, I can always use a reminder like that. ( I don't think he knows that my awareness springs up with the naturally highlighted roots of my hair that scream to be coloured anew every 5 weeks or so!) So , back atcha Kal, these first 3 photos are when you were about 1/2 of the age you are now. Just sayin'!
Kalvin was the only one of our 4 children that arrived at a civilized hour upon this wild and crazy earth. Supper time. Nicely done my son! It really was the best.
Just to get a little nostalgic, it is no wonder to me that he has spent the past 8 months mastering the art of surfing while living on the East Coast of Australia. 2 weeks before Kalvin's actual due date, his dad, Roger, and I were helping my mum and dad work on their septic system. I was squatting down, feeding the sewer snake along the floor to Roger who was trying to figure out where the blockage might be. At one point he was giving me the weirdest look....my water had broken and there was a big puddle at my feet, but since I was squatting I hadn't really figured it out yet! A few hours along in the day came Kalvin, 7 lbs 10 oz of lean cuteness. I didn't even miss out on a nights sleep, perfect timing Kal!
Growing up on the Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii was the perfect setting for Kal as he was born climbing, squirming, leaping, springing, digging, cutting, shooting, exploring everywhere and everything. The islands were,and still are, every boys ultimate playground. The outdoors was an a classroom all of it's own. He didn't miss a thing. (he can tell you the story of the spit roasted squirrel another time!) Building forts, soccer,creating war games, soccer, knights in shining armour weapons, soccer, making wooden guns, soccer, using hammer & nails, soccer, bows and arrows, soccer, biking, soccer, he loved soccer. Still does! So much so that he occasionally has to miss work do to injuries incurred on the field that are not covered by WCB. Idle? What the heck is idle, I don't think he would know it if it fell on him.
Fast forward to 2006, he graduated from Highland Sr Secondary in Comox, part of his attire for the event was a cane that he had chosen from among the things my grandfather had left behind when he departed from this world. You can just see the tip of it between his shoes. So touching....yet to snap back to reality and not get too caught up in the sniff sniff isn't he the sweetest purest most innocent young man....apparently my Grandpa also had a full 40 pounder of Captain Morgan's spice Rum that Kalvin also chose as a touching memory item! I only found out about that last year....I did mention the screaming roots requiring colour did I not? 
( grampa Bill and Kal up on the roof)
Once when he was recovering from a broken collar bone (injury incurred while longboarding in a less than attentive time of day-wink wink) Kal came up to help us put a new roof on our house. There were somethings he couldn't do but he was up there like a monkey, tromping around, hauling stuff up, hammering, cutting sheet metal,oh ...and creating beach glass jewelry in the evening on the sundeck. There is something really cool about having a child who is as diverse and creative in so many different areas as yourself. I love it. Part of me wonders where he got the super laid back part of his personality, but secretly I think that is buried somewhere within me as well! 
( grampa Bill and Kal up on the roof)
Labour Day weekend 2010, Kal, Jen, me, and various other family members gathered for a great bbq with friends at my cousin Donna's (and Steve's!) house in Victoria. We had lots of time to just hang out, chat, catch up and talk about the upcoming adventures they were planning as they were both getting ready to head off on worldly adventures around the globe. The above photo is the last one of us together before they left. I love it.
A few weeks ago, 8 months into their Australian Adventure, they came across this park, perfect! That one was for his dad. Gotta love stuff like that!
(in this photo Kal is the 3rd one in from the left with his arm up in the air)
Kalvin has never been hard to get along with, or hard to like. He is hardworking, hardplaying, adventurous, kind, generous, thoughtful, creative and pretty stinkin' cute! ( sorry Kal, I am still your mumma!) As I look at the pictures above and have the flashdriven memories of him from the first day until now, I smile and notice my eyes brimming with tears. As with all my kids, I am such a proud mum. But today? It is all about you Kal. I love you my son, you are amazing and I thank God for being able to continue to watch you on this winding, twisting, adventure of your life. Happy 23rd Birthday Honey. xo