Special Moments

                                 I'm slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community today.  
            Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Anna, Betsy, Dana, Kathleen, Beth, and Deb, we keep going!

Be sure to go here to Michelle Barne's post at Today's Little Ditty for line number twelve of Irene Latham's Progressive Poem.

Yikes, my line is tomorrow!

        A special slice of my life happened last weekend, on Saturday night specifically. My grandson Carter received his Eagle Scout award, something he has spent years working toward. I am very proud of him, and know how proud my husband would be if he were still with us. Arvie was an avid Scout, earned his Eagle award too, and continued as a volunteer and Scoutmaster for many years. My son also is an Eagle Scout and now works as the head of a Scout council. 

        Carter lived near to us since birth, lucky us, and moved with his parents when he was in fourth grade. I am fortunate to see them often. My husband and I kept Carter a lot as a baby and toddler, but began traveling overnight with him when he was about five. We stayed in state for a few years, but then traveled farther when he was older. Recently, with his family and my daughter's too, we travel to the Gulf each year. It is a pleasure to be with all of them, and Carter is a traveler extraordinaire, so loving to his young cousins who adore him, helpful navigating the airports and the roads. He completed his Eagle project in Costa Rica, working with a school and Scouts there to rehabilitate buildings into re-cycle centers for a park. As I said, he is a traveler. 

         As many say, it takes a village to raise a child, so I'm proud of Carter's parents, too, thank them and the relatives, family friends, Scout family, and his school who are all there to care about this young man, my dear grandson.   

Here is a poem I wrote about Carter when he turned 13, and it fits today too.

Oops, it's time. I must depart

     from this boy who stole my heart.

     Now, he's looking very tall

     and never plays with toys at all.

     I remember he used to be

     the one who sat and read with me

     and held my hand as we walked along

     and listened while I sang him songs.

     I also know although he's grown,

     he's still the little boy I've known.

                    Linda Baie, All Rights Reserved

In The Rockies

First trip to Sanibel Island

Last year - Captiva Island.

Last Saturday, giving his Eagle speech.