Yesterday's Birthdays

Tomorrow is my son's birthday. He will be 15. June 19, 2014.

Imagine. My son. 15. He's not even home now. At a friend's house overnight. I won't be the first one to see him in the morning. On his birthday.

It really is odd how time goes by. Time. Goes. Bye.

I wrote in his journal many times on or around his birthday. I think I'll wait this time. I know he likes when I write in his journal. The journal he didn't invent, but now seem to take ownership of at times. But today, I'll write about his journal, not in it. I'll write about birthdays of yesterday...

Monday, June 28, 1999
Dear John, 
Guess what? You are a boy! Your dad and I are so happy to have you here. You were born on Saturday, June 19, 1999 at 9:41 p.m... welcome home!

6-19-01
John-John turns two years old. We had a little party at home... just the family. It was fun. You kept hitting your head on the chair on purpose. I asked, "Are you a clown?" You said, "No clown ma, I Johnny."

June 18, 2002
Dear John, 
Tomorrow you will be three! We are having supper... You said grace tonight. I love to hear you pray... "Heavenly Father, thank you for the food, the door, the milk, and the American flag. Thank you for my sandwich, Mommy, Daddy, me and Hannah, my milk (again). In Jesus name, Amen."

Summer 2006
John Swanson is 7 years old. You have a very busy mouth right now. Two new front teeth are coming in. [I asked you] "What is your favorite food?"
"Um... Pizza, meat, and mustard. Let me think. Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, cherries, and, hmm... peanuts."

John - You are 9! For your birthday I took you and buddy Austin to Lego Land at the Mall of America!

June 20, 2012
Dear John, 
Now that you are 11 years old, I guess I will have to get you a new journal. Not only is the cover of this book a little babyish... but I am running out of pages. You sure have come a long way since the beginning of this journal...

Sunday, June 19, 2011
Happy birthday, John! You officially turned 12 at 9:41 p.m. Today we had a really good time... For supper we had crispy chicken tacos and cherry pie with whipped cream.

June 19
Dear John,
You are officially a teenager - 13 years old today. Happy birthday, Son!

Wednesday, June 19
John at 14 years old. Can you really be 14 today? Where do the years go! It seems like you are growing up too fast...

Nobody really grow up too fast. That is only something parents invented to say when they are missing their kids. Tonight I miss my son on his last day of 14.

Not that I want him to be missing the fun with friends. Home. Like yesterday's birthdays. It's okay he is gone.

Having fun.

Growing up.

I can wait until tomorrow.

Tomorrow when he is 15. 

Happy birthday, John.