Forever InPraize!!

Anyone who has known me for an extended length of time knows that I frequently refer to my son, Justin, as my “comic relief” child. While his birth was an initial course in Trauma 101, once we cleared that hurdle, he was off and running just to the left of “a little strange”. I clearly remember holding him up to the window of our hospital room and just talking to him, when a group of birds flew a little too close to the window, scaring the crap out of me (I don’t like groups of birds anywhere near me). I jumped a little and let out a little scream and I could swear Justin started laughing. Of course, this started me laughing and he’s been doing it every since.

Another instance of Justin keeping me laughing comes from when he was about 5 or 6 years old. We were taking a drive somewhere and the car had become very quiet. All of the sudden, Justin says, “I wonder what my spirit is doing right now.” The car immediately erupted in laughter and I was forced to come up with a serious and relevant answer quickly because we realized that Justin was the only one that didn’t think what he’d said was funny.

Justin also had a unique way of interpreting things that were said to him when he was younger. I remember sitting across from him at the breakfast table one morning, when Ron (my husband) had decided that Justin had played in his food long enough. Ron’s instructions to Justin were clear, “Roll your sausage in your pancake and finish eating Justin.” However, Justin’s interpretation was hilarious. Justin proceeded to take his fork and roll his sausage across the top of his pancake. Needless to say, more laughter and breakfast was over.

I have to admit that I don’t always value Justin’s unique sense of humor because he uses it to defuse tense situations; and he uses it quite effectively. However, as I am maturing in the spirit, I value the lessons that he has taught me about not taking everything too seriously.

So today is dedicated to Justin, my “comic relief” child who blesses my days with love and laughter (and good food…. the boy can throw down ya’ll!! And he starts Culinary School in January!!)!!