Marty's Birthday
Sandra Dodd
People sometimes like for the longterm unschoolers to confess to
doubts or concerns. I don't know whether this will count at all, but
here's one.
Marty turned 21 today. He's going to Las Vegas with his girlfriend
and three other friends, all older. The next oldest is 23, and the
oldest is 30. They're flying (Kirby has gone to pick them all up and
take them to the airport), and are sharing one room.
I'm worried, but not about anything specific. Just worried that it's
dangerous and expensive and vaguely risky. I called my friend Jeff
yesterday. He's Marty's godfather, and also his knight in the SCA
(Marty's his squire), and I said "jolly me up about this," and he said
he would have been thrilled to have had that when he turned 21. And I
knew Jeff when he turned 21. Heck, I knew my husband Keith when HE
turned 21 (we weren't married until he was 27 or so). Jeff knows all
the people Marty will be with and pointed out how bright they all were
and how much fun they would have. One is a nurse, so even health and
safety is kind of covered.
Still, I feel unsettled.
I think they will be fine, in my conscious thoughts.
I can figure they'll be fine in a sensible view of it.
But in my instinctive mom-parts of me I'm jittery.
Sandra
doubts or concerns. I don't know whether this will count at all, but
here's one.
Marty turned 21 today. He's going to Las Vegas with his girlfriend
and three other friends, all older. The next oldest is 23, and the
oldest is 30. They're flying (Kirby has gone to pick them all up and
take them to the airport), and are sharing one room.
I'm worried, but not about anything specific. Just worried that it's
dangerous and expensive and vaguely risky. I called my friend Jeff
yesterday. He's Marty's godfather, and also his knight in the SCA
(Marty's his squire), and I said "jolly me up about this," and he said
he would have been thrilled to have had that when he turned 21. And I
knew Jeff when he turned 21. Heck, I knew my husband Keith when HE
turned 21 (we weren't married until he was 27 or so). Jeff knows all
the people Marty will be with and pointed out how bright they all were
and how much fun they would have. One is a nurse, so even health and
safety is kind of covered.
Still, I feel unsettled.
I think they will be fine, in my conscious thoughts.
I can figure they'll be fine in a sensible view of it.
But in my instinctive mom-parts of me I'm jittery.
Sandra
Jill Parmer
Happy Birthday to Marty. I understand he's a bit sick, so I hope
it's not too much for a plane ride and a hotel stay. But he's young
and strong, so this probably won't phase him.
If my kids (as adults) were going to go to Las Vegas, I'd want Marty
with them. He seems to have a way with people and the world that is
jovial and funny, yet a big, strong way of knowing what to do should
they end up in a more challenging situation.
What I know of Marty (from the symposium in Santa Fe, mostly, but
from other times of meeting him too) is that he walks in a room and
brings a bit more sunshine in with him, and can sit in a chair and
lean back and fall, and get right back up and proceed. He was a
wonderful host in the game condo, making bean and cheese quesadillas
for the younger group playing upstairs on our last night there.
I know there are other elements to a 21 year old going to Las Vegas
for that birthday, but Marty has a lot more going for him than your
average 21 year old birthday person. I hope Marty has a fine time
and I hope your unsettled, jitteriness fades.
Jill (who doesn't have a complete grasp of a kid in Marty's and your
position, since my kids are only 15 and 11)
it's not too much for a plane ride and a hotel stay. But he's young
and strong, so this probably won't phase him.
If my kids (as adults) were going to go to Las Vegas, I'd want Marty
with them. He seems to have a way with people and the world that is
jovial and funny, yet a big, strong way of knowing what to do should
they end up in a more challenging situation.
What I know of Marty (from the symposium in Santa Fe, mostly, but
from other times of meeting him too) is that he walks in a room and
brings a bit more sunshine in with him, and can sit in a chair and
lean back and fall, and get right back up and proceed. He was a
wonderful host in the game condo, making bean and cheese quesadillas
for the younger group playing upstairs on our last night there.
I know there are other elements to a 21 year old going to Las Vegas
for that birthday, but Marty has a lot more going for him than your
average 21 year old birthday person. I hope Marty has a fine time
and I hope your unsettled, jitteriness fades.
Jill (who doesn't have a complete grasp of a kid in Marty's and your
position, since my kids are only 15 and 11)
On Jan 14, 2010, at 12:54 PM, Sandra Dodd wrote:
> Marty turned 21 today. He's going to Las Vegas with his girlfriend
> and three other friends, all older.
<snip>
>
> Still, I feel unsettled.
>
> I think they will be fine, in my conscious thoughts.
> I can figure they'll be fine in a sensible view of it.
> But in my instinctive mom-parts of me I'm jittery.
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