18!!!
How is that possible?!
It is such an exciting milestone, that also carries with it much responsibility.
Which is reminiscent of a famous quote, often attributed to your favorite superhero, Spider-Man,
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
The last year you have definitely been learning that “Peter Parker” principle, often the hard way.
That will continue as you navigate adulthood in the years to come and I hope that whatever paths you choose, you’ll stay curious, find meaning and experience much joy.
Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
‘Cause there’s a million things to be
You know that there are
And if you want to live high, live high
And if you want to live low, live low
‘Cause there’s a million ways to go
You know that there are
As Cat Stevens sings, there are a million ways to go, especially after you passed the drivers test in June and got your license! Since then you’ve had many safe and successful outings behind the wheel. You’ve also had a few that didn’t go as planned, which Daddy and I could both relate to, having literally been down similar roads ourselves, when we were newly licensed drivers.
This year has been a really hard one for you, from continuing to navigate life during a global pandemic (which kept you from in-person learning and a more typical high school experience for much of your sophomore and junior years) to the unexpected death of your paternal Grandpa Kevin in July.
You were in your first week working as a Junior Staff (J-Staff) member at McGaw YMCA Camp Echo overnight camp in Michigan, when we had to call and share the news. I was in shock and it was so hard to have to tell you over the phone. We are grateful that your coworkers and the administrative staff there were so supportive, as well as that we were able to plan Grandpa Kevin’s services in a way that allowed you to stay at camp (which you wanted) and still be home for his wake and funeral (during the break between the first of the two sessions that you worked this summer).
Grandpa Kevin would be/is so proud of you being one of the pallbearers, as well as reading one of our family’s favorite Bible verses, Philippians 4:4-9, at his funeral. The last time I was with Grandpa Kevin in person, two days before he died, he couldn’t believe (in a good way) that you, his first grandchild, was old enough to have your driver’s license and that you had just left for your first summer job!
You can do what you want
The opportunity’s on
And if you can find a new way
You can do it today
You can make it all true
And you can make it undo
you see ah ah ah
it’s easy ah ah ah
You only need to know
Though at 18, you’ve had more than enough experiences to remind you not to take the time you have with loved ones for granted, nothing prepares us for the death of a close family member or dear friend. I am so sorry that you have known so much grief and loss, including the death of your baby sister Molly, before you became an adult.
Yesterday was both the three month milestone since Grandpa Kevin died on July 1st and the second anniversary your longtime friend D’s unexpected death from an AVM in his brain. Grandpa Kevin and D were/are both deep thinkers and loved J. R.R. Tolkien’s stories. I like to imagine the conversations they could be having in an afterlife. I find peace and comfort in the idea that they might be watching over us and sending signs our way, which helps us to cope, especially on our most difficult days.
Can you believe it? Today you are officially an adult! I Googled all the things you can do, now that you are 18, and it was fun and interesting to peruse.
Well if you want to say yes, say yes
And if you want to say no, say no
‘Cause there’s a million ways to go
You know that there are
And if you want to be me, be me
And if you want to be you, be you
‘Cause there’s a million things to do
You know that there are
It won’t be long before you’ll be submitting your first college applications and by this time next year, hopefully you’ll have found a good fit and be settling in on campus somewhere. As of now, you are leaning towards majoring in Psychology or Economics and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is at the top of your list. Daddy and I would certainly love for you to attend our alma mater and if you don’t get in and/or decide to go somewhere else, that works too!
In the meantime, I hope that you continue to enjoy your senior year at Jones College Prep (JCP)! I am so glad that thanks to the COVID vaccine and other precautions, in spite of the Delta variant that has set things back some in recent months, you are still getting to have some semblance of a *normal* 12th grade experience.
To say that high school hasn’t gone as you or we hoped or anticipated, for many reasons (including the pandemic), is an understatement. However, there have still been many wonderful people (including classmates and teachers) that you’ve connected with, memories made and lessons learned.
You’ve been a faithful member of the JCP choirs and Harry Potter Club since your Freshman year. When you can fit it into your schedule, you also like participating in the Drama and Comedy Clubs. You continue to put yourself out there, auditioning for school plays and musicals, though the competition at a big high school is tough. Recently, you also auditioned for JCP’s acapella singing group for the first time, which you’ve yet to find out if you got into.
On the home front, you still love your Pokémon cards, playing video games, building with Legos, putting together puzzles (the more pieces/challenging the better) and reading (so many books). You take advantage of having the Harold Washington Library so close to JCP and stop by often to check out and return books, as well as to hang out at YOUMedia there, before riding the Metra train home from downtown to our Beverly neighborhood here on the southwest side of Chicago.
As you enter adulthood, you are fascinated by all things related to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). When possible, you love you to see the movies, in theaters, on the day they are released and you never miss the TV series (including Wandavision, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and What If?). I especially enjoyed watching Loki with Abby and you this summer. It led to some fun and interesting philosophical conversations about multiverses!
Our family has continued to spend a lot of time hanging out together at home, in large part because of the pandemic and Abby not being old enough to get vaccinated until she turned 12 last month. From playing cards and board games, Monopoly and (the new to us) Catan being favorites, to watching lots of movies and TV shows, I am grateful how much we enjoy each other’s company (most of the time). I also couldn’t be happier about how well Abby and you get along (more often than not). As you know, Abby is one of your biggest fans. I love that you two enjoy spending time together and she is really going to miss you next year when you leave for college. Your Daddy and I will too!
This year we’ve binged watched more awesome TV series together (many of which really resonated with our family) including: A-Typical, Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, Cobra Kai, The Mandalorian and Ted Lasso. You never miss SNL and John Oliver, though we usually catch them on our DVR, because when you are tired, almost nothing stops you from going to bed, even if it is only 8:30 p.m. That said, seeing as most mornings you wake up at about 5:15 a.m. to workout with Daddy and me (which is such a wonderful way to start our days), it understandable why you and we would feel sleepy early.
Time really does fly… Though it doesn’t always feel like it in the moment, especially when you are holding plank (as one of our favorite fitness trainers says)! You’ve been singing out since you were in grade school and watching you perform is one the many things that brings me pride and joy as your mom. At 46, I appreciate more than ever that there’s a million ways to go and things to be and it’s more than okay to to change your mind along the way.
Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
‘Cause there’s a million things to be
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are
Happy 18th Birthday, Sean Owen! Thank you for making me a mom (and Daddy a dad) 18 years ago today, being the best big brother to Abby and bringing so much joy to all of our lives! We learn from you everyday day and love you so much!!!
Love,
Mommy
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