More man, less child

Once, long ago
London, ON
June 1998

He's always been our little man, but today he somehow seems that much less so. Zach, our firstborn, turned 20 today. Which, I'll admit, freaks me out a little bit because, well, 20!

It seems like just yesterday that he fought his way into the world, just yesterday that we were settling into our home in the Montreal burbs with him, just yesterday that we sold that house and drove through a winter storm's aftermath to a strange faraway city to start a new life, and just yesterday that he became a big brother to Dahlia and then, again, to Noah.

In many respects, the story of us wouldn't be the story of us without the story of him. And he now looms over us all as he figures out this world thing and takes one step after another toward the man he is destined to be.

He is smart, funny and very sweet. He has a personality that fills a room and sticks with whoever's there long after everyone's gone their separate ways. He's well on his way toward putting his own ding in the universe, and it leaves me wondering why time has to move so quickly.

I guess when life is good, there's never enough time. Happy birthday, little almost-grown man.

Your turn: What do you wish Zach as he begins another decade?