
On March 5, 2011, the Volnek family welcomed a new daughter to the family. I am so proud. It warmed my heart to watch my son break into the biggest smile as his beautiful bride walked down the aisle. He’d laughed at me earlier as he walked me to my seat. I’d had a 'mom moment', tears filling my eyes, just as the photographer popped into the aisle for a picture. Yeah, my son teased me about that. But I couldn’t help it. Images of a much younger boy kept springing to mind. Where did the years go?
This was my middle son. The one I always (and still do) call Huggy Bear. Being the middle child he was my clown. Ready to do anything for a laugh. While my oldest was more serious to a fault, my middle son didn’t want to take anything serious growing up. He wasn’t very good at sports. In t-ball he got yelled at by the coach for not going after a fly ball that landed five feet from him in center field. So the next inning, though he was now playing pitcher, he went running back out to center field and wrestled with the outfielder to retrieve the coveted ball. Two innings later, he was on first base. The ball was hit, and not wanting to get yelled at by the coach again, he remained on base, jumping and yelling for them to get the ball to him to get the runner out. When he realized the ball was not going to make it, he threw himself on the base, covering it so the runner couldn’t touch it. Needless to say the stands were a buzz of laughter.
Yeah, my middle son would never be the next Babe Ruth or Mickey Mantle. But he had a heart made for love. Quick with a mischievous grin and a joke, he always brings a smile to my face. He’s grown into a wonderful young man, beginning a fruitful career and now a husband. I’m fortunate he chose to buy a house about three blocks away from ‘Mommy’, quick to remind me that it’s a short distance for his future children to go see Grandma. Family is such an exquisite gift. It’s the story of life. New chapters every time we turn around. And as I age, I still love watching my children grow and have their dreams unfold before their very eyes. My dreams unfold along with them. After all… I’m just 18 with 42 years experience.
Here’s cheers to all families! There’s no two alike and nothing can replace them!
C.K. Volnek