On a recent day in December, on a day much like any other day this year, I watched as Calvin rose earlier than anyone else in the house to take care of his chickens. He opened the coop, changed the water, freshened the food, brought them scraps, and gave the bedding a stir. Coming back in, with his littlest brother just toddling into the kitchen, Calvin made them both breakfast. There was some reading after that in front of the fire, and a game of chess with his other brother. At midday, he volunteered to help his Papa butcher the remaining turkeys, taking breaks here and there to work in his treehouse, and target practice on a bale of hay with his handmade bow and arrow. As evening neared, we left the house...stopping first at the local natural foods store where he sells his eggs. Proceeding into the city, my little guy joined his friends backstage and donned his black tights, ballet slippers and stage makeup and danced his way onto the stage.
In between those moments, I am certain that he also held the baby while I took a shower, likely knit a row or two on his scarf, probably 'polished' his Converse (yes, really), may have made his little sister an orange fleece hat, and definitely listened to some hip-hop.
As his Mama, I will confess that at times, he is (and always has been) hard to keep up with. He's ambitious, precocious, confident, oh-so passionate, and oh my, does he have plans. He's never been "bored" for a moment, and there is nothing this boy believes to be impossible.
I recently overheard Calvin telling Harper "how" to ski downhill. It all boiled down to trying really hard, falling down, and getting back up to try really hard again. Simple as that. And just exactly how I've seen this growing young man of mine live his days - success and disappointment alike. His days are full...and lived fully. It's a blessing to watch.
Happy eleventh birthday, Calvin Guthrie.
Keep dreaming big. (I know you will.)
