Voice Mail

Parker finally has his phone back. After jumping in the pool this summer and ruining his second phone in a year, we made him wait until we were due for an upgrade to get a new one. Finally the day came, and he is now the proud owner of a blue Xenon that slides open and has a touch screen. To tell the truth, his not having a phone was probably harder on me than it was on him. I love being able to be in instant contact with my kids if necessary.

Like when I was sitting outside the school, waiting for him to emerge from the weight room where he is doing after school workouts. I was watching for him, looking for the tall slim young man with big hands and feet that he has become. I've gotten used to his new lanky body and deeper gravely voice.

And then I tried to call his phone to make sure he knew I was there.

And it went to voice mail.

And the message he had recorded over a year ago began to play...

"Hey, this is Parker..."

And it was his little boy voice. High and young and so innocent that it caught me off guard. I was suddenly reminded how quickly things change. Then he threw his bag in the car and filled up the front seat with his teenaged boy body and said, "Sorry, I missed your call." I just smiled and said, "That's ok. And every now and then, when I call...could you just let it go to voice mail?"