Bug's Tenth Birthday

Okay, I caved. Standing in Hallmark, looking at birthday cards, I broke down and cried because I couldn't celebrate Michael's tenth birthday. Ten!! Double digits! It was hard enough to believe he was turning ten already, but to not be able to celebrate was too crushing of a blow. I made Bill take me to Target to buy him a new scooter. The one he's had was a hand-me-down from a neighbor in Tennessee. Most of the paint had been worn off and the wheels were all cracked. It was a terrible piece of junk, but he's loved riding it the past couple of years. I just thought it was time for a new one. So off to Target we went and picked out the Pulse Slither for him--the thing is pretty wild. It's like a combo scooter, skate board, surf board three-in-one. Our only other option was an electric scooter and we just weren't going there. I didn't realize how expensive these things are! $150--for an electric scooter! Or more! Craziness! His bike didn't cost that much!

So, since Michael had had a pretty good week, keeping up with his chores and homework, earning his stars on his behavior chart, we had agreed to take him out to dinner for his birthday. All he really wanted was chocolate cake, so we made sure that was on the menu and headed to Natili's North for his birthday dinner. The scooter was in the back of Bill's car and Michael almost missed it climbing in the back seat. He tentatively asked what the scooter was for, not quite sure it was his since he wasn't supposed to be getting any presents. He looked at me and I just smiled and told him happy birthday.

"Is that my present? Only one??" he dared to ask! Only one!!! You rotten bugger!! You weren't supposed to get ANY!!! Yeah only one! And it was expensive enough! Kids!! I couldn't imagine ever saying something like that to my parents--only one?! There is a serious lack of appreciation from this child. Only one...such audacity!

So, we had a delicious dinner at Natili's. Michael had pepperoni pizza and root beer, brought his double chocolate toffee birthday cake home for later. He helped Bill put the scooter together and off he went, zigzagging and swooping up and down the street on his new Slither Drifter. He was pretty happy with his only one gift. Of course Sissie and some friends sent him some birthday cash which is going to burn a hole in his pocket until he spends every penny, so I think I know what we'll be doing after bowling this afternoon. So much for the model train show I thought he'd want to check out. Maybe we'll manage to do both...

Happy Birthday Bug--I love you!

Whacko--something about this reminds me of Mick Jagger...??