May 4, 2025
Since Mother’s Day comes this month, indulge me as I share some stories about our four children.
Eric Michael, born on October 23, 1985, weighed 8 pounds 14 ounces and had the most smooth, radiant complexion. We were delighted to have a healthy handsome son.
At about age 5, his dad took him to a sportsman show and bought him some tickets to try fishing from the large indoor tank. Pardon the pun, but Eric was hooked on fishing! Decades later, he now fishes outdoors in the mountain lakes of British Columbia. (I can only imagine what angling fun my dad, who loved fishing, would have had with his grandson Eric.)
In his early teen years, he even took up fly fishing, learning to tie beautiful flies.
Unrelated to fishing, I cherish a Christmas memory of him. We were living in the back part of our house, with little secret storage for extras like Christmas gifts. When the six of us piled into the van on December 24th to drive to Dave’s parents’ home for the holidays, I somehow forgot to retrieve the main gifts from their hiding places.
Later that evening, I discovered my oversight. It was winter weather, and a two hour drive back home, so going to get them was not an option. Upstairs at my in-law’s house, I cried with disappointment. On my way downstairs, I found 7 year old Eric standing on the landing. He looked at me solemnly.
“I forgive you about the gifts, Mommy.” This was a wonderful present for me!
As a teenager, Eric got his driver’s license just in time to take the wheel for our March Break trip to Florida. Dave had to work, and the older girls were away from home. So Eric invited his friend Reuben, Julie asked her friend Sitelle, and I took my friend Jocelyn.
Eric drove well. That allowed me to rest, visiting with my friend in the back seat of our large van. He covered about 22 of the 24 hours drive each way, including a side trip to Tampa during rush hour, and a driving rain storm.
I was proud of him for taking on this task and getting us home safely.
