My number one son is now an attorney

My oldest son Edward has always been such an enigma to me. He smiled at me the first time I held him. I saw it, and I know it.

The nurses told me that newborns cannot smile...that it was probably gas. Bullshit. He smiled at me as if to say, Hello.

I know he did.

Edward was also born old. When I look back now at photos of him as a child, it is so evident. It would be to anyone. Of course, I was aware of it even then, but it's especially apparent to me now after having also raised his little brother Sam.

Sam is a very new soul, and at 22, he is still quite immature and idealistic. He just got married so I'm sure that wifey will soon shape him up. She's definitely tougher on him than I was, and that's saying a lot. I had to raise him entirely alone. M_ got on a jet plane in 1984 and I haven't laid eyes on him since.

Back to Edward...he is a reader and credits me for that. I used to read to him every night, and ha...I also made him memorize poetry when he was small. He can still remember much of it, especially Poe's "Annabelle Lee." I was certain that Eddie would become an English professor since he is one of the best-read people I know. He's devoured everything and has read all the classics (that everyone is familiar with and that everyone says they've read...well, he actually has). He's always been a voracious reader since he was little and he has incredible insight.

Well, he majored in History for his Bachelor's Degree and taught classes at the university as a graduate assistant while he earned his Master's Degree. He took a year off to work and look for schools to consider for a doctorate degree.

Then one day he called me and said, "I'm going to Law School. I was accepted."

I was floored and extremely disappointed. I wanted a professor son, and that had always been the plan.

"Why ??" I asked.

"Well, I know that I can do it, and it will be the fastest way for me to be able to retire early." I couldn't argue with that reasoning, especially since he'd seen my closest friend Cathy F. go to law school. She never worries about money and plans to retire in just a few years.

Now after three long arduous years, he has graduated. Today. And I was unable to go as I had planned. (I had emergency surgery three weeks ago and had to cancel my plans to go home and see him receive his degree.) To say that I've been depressed the past few days would be an understatement.

He called me right after graduation and said that everyone was there. My mother and Sam, his little brother. His dad (my number One Hubby - Ugh) and Barbara, his paternal grandmother. (And I know, I just know that my daddy and Papa were there, too, in spirit.)

Anyway, he called and was elated. He also told me that he's coming on May 26 to stay with me for two weeks since I couldn't make the graduation.

I'm ecstatic.