My Mom told me that if I had a good report card my hard work would be rewarded with getting my ears pierced. OMG!!! You mean I was finally going to be like the other girls? Maybe now I can make some friends, because you know, girls are caddy that way. No ears pierced? No friendship. Ears pierced BFF for life!!! Like Oh My God (in my best valley girl voice)!!!!
I was so excited, my stomach did flip-flops each time I thought about it. I remember how much I focused, how hard I tried to memorize my math facts, that I was quizzed on by Mr Lucero, he on one side of the desk me on the other.
And then the day came...The report card came out...Funny how I can remember the smallest of details leading up to this point but I don't remember what my report card was, only that it must have been good because I did get my ears pierced. I couldn't tell you where, I couldn't tell you what my first earrings were, or even if it gained me any friends. But the anticipation of that moment, that build-up of knowing that soon I was going to be "a big girl" will forever be burned in my memory.
OK, so that was the long way of getting to Oz and Ahbies rite of passage today....They went with Daddy to the store to return some shoes. They were gone for a while, longer then it should have taken to return shoes, but when they got home I understood why...
Ahbie came into the kitchen holding a bag with a smile on his face that was an equal mixture of excitement and pride. I asked him what's in the bag and he ever so slowly, making sure to be painstakingly careful with his most prized possession, finally revealed a......REMOTE CONTROL CAR.......Yes folks, remote control cars are a rite of passage for any Boy, just ask one...He could hardly control his excitement now that the box was out of the bag, he wanted that car and he wanted it right that second.
As I was working on releasing Ahbies car from the confines of 800 twist ties, tape, and screws, Oz came in with his bag. Now, Oz is older, he is 10, and very much wants to play the part of a mature 10 year old boy. You see, he's no "baby" like Ahbie. Oz reminds me of my Sister Cathy who every Christmas morning while the rest of us tore through our Christmas presents she would slowly unwrap each gift, not wanting to tear the paper. Oz starts to open his box, removing the tape, etc. We pull it out and he holds it. He wants to smile but that wouldn't be something a 10 year old boy does, so he very grown-up like, tells me that we need to put in the batteries and shows me where. I tell him how many we need and he counts them out for me, handing me each one. He watches me, making sure I am doing it just right. And then, finally it is ready to go...
He takes a minute to look at it, then sets it on the floor, finally he smiles, the excitement is to much to bear and he lets it tear across the floor. Oh yeah, he is all boy...He and Ahbie chase each other's cars, laughing, and creating a memory that, hopefully, they will remember for long, long time...Brothers experiencing the thrill of their first remote control cars, together....This is a rite of passage that leaves me feeling blessed to have been a part of.
Life is good here at Casa De Martinez....Thank you God....
