HAPPY 20TH BIRTHDAY GRASSHOPPER

As Mitch's mom I've decided to excercise a little poetic license and do a post on the "Dutch Elder's" blog.  It is officially Mitch's 20th birthday right now.

 It really does seem like yesterday that he was born.  I still remember the feeling of finally getting to hold him when he was born.  He was really tiny and scrawny.  He was red all over (which is a good color, blue means the baby is not breathing-bad color), he had a little patch of strawberry blonde colored hair.  Within a matter of days he was cover from the tip of his pointy little head to the very tips of his tiny toes with baby acne.  I could not believe how bad it was.  The dermatologist that I worked for at the time was also amazed but, of course, there was nothing he could do for poor Mitch.  We just had to "wait it out" until his skin and hormones adjusted to life on the wonderful earth that we inhabit. 

Ross and I were about 32 years old (but whose counting?) when we had Mitch.  Yes, I was asked many times if Mitch was my grandson.  One day when I was picking him up from kindergarten, one of the kids yelled, "Mitch your grandma's here to get you".  When Mitch saw that it was just me, not his grandma, he yelled back, "she's just my mom".  Oh well, when you're older those kinds of things don't bother you because trying to keep up with young children makes you feel like a grandma.

Mitch was always a handful  but in a good way.  He loved to tease every person that walked on this planet.  There were many times I thought I would die of embarrasment from something that he had said or from something that he had done., or both. 

He has grown into a fun loving and responsible adult.  He has always known what he wanted to accomplish in this life and so far nothing has stopped him from reaching his goals.  Luckily, his goals have always been positive and good.  At least, as far as I know and believe me I really do know more than I want to about some of his "adventures".  I apologize to any of you who have been included in any "adventures" that you were not happy with. 

I love you Mitch and I am so very proud of you. 

Love,
Mama Bear

P.S.  I'm going to make sure to print this post so that when you get home and I'm ready for you to go back to The Netherlands because you're teasing me, I can read it and remember how I felt on your 20th "birth" day.