A Tribute to Dallin on His Birthday!

Dallin was my happy child. From the day he was born, he always displayed a big happy smile on his face. So much so, that we called him "Smiley." I remember, too, he never cried much. It's a wonder I didn't just forget about him some days because he never made much of a fuss.

I call him my "la--la--la" kid. He's the type that "moseys" through life oblivious to most things I always thought were important to worry about. I think his theme song should have been "Feelin' Groovey" or perhaps "Don't Worry, Be Happy." Because he didn't worry, I worried. I worried enough for the BOTH of us as he grew up. But that's what mothers do.

I worried whether he would catch some unknown disease in his very messy bedroom. I feared that whenever he DID get around to cleaning his room it would be like it is when they clear the rain forests: some new dreaded "epizoodic" pops up out of nowhere.

I worried about whether or not he would flunk kindergarten and then, the sixth grade. I was nearly a basket case wondering if he would actually graduate from high school!

I worried whether or not his homework was done and deadlines met and theme papers turned in on time, and whether or not it was a good idea to always be talking to complete strangers. He could learn the most interesting things and get the best bargains for free because of his ability to talk their leg off!

I worried about his "dumpster diving" for some great and wonderful treasure, and whether or not the garbage truck would come along and haul him off while he was head first in some stinking can. The list goes on and on and on. . . Good grief, sounds like I must have been a NEUROTIC mom!

Over the years I have pondered the neurotic-ness of MY life and can take a heap of learnin' from this child on how to enjoy life. He just skips through life with a "la-la" attitude which keeps him happy and carefree. You see, he loves life.

NOW HE'S ALL GROWN UP! Where did the time go? Now that I reflect back, I think maybe he was just a typical boy!

It doesn't matter much now that his room was such a mess all the time. He has a home of his own and he is working hard at getting it fixed up.

It doesn't matter that it was TWO days before graduation that we knew for sure whether or not he would really graduate from high school. He FINALLY graduated with his college degree. (Just because I'm the MOM, I think I should be able to hang the certificate on MY wall. After all, it was ME who "gently persuaded" him to do it. Wasn't it? And yes, I'll be the first to take the credit.)

It doesn't matter now that he talked to complete strangers because now he can carry on conversations with anyone. I am soooo glad I didn't stifle that talent of his!

It doesn't matter now that he used to be late coming home from school every day because he had to stop along the way and investigate everybody's trash can. His pockets were always full of "stuff." He still brings "stuff" home. In fact, my basement is FULL of it, but he can assemble all sorts of parts into something that will compute.

It doesn't matter now that he took a pomegranate to school when he was little and sold the little pomegranate seeds for a nickel a piece. I've got to hand it to the kid. . .that was actually quite ingenious and quite entrepreneurial. Now he is figuring out how to make a go of his own business. I have no doubt he will make it someday, but for the time being he has a great new job. He's a smart kid.

What DOES MATTER now is that he has turned out to be a good husband and a proud daddy. He is kind, loving, considerate and never complains, and he still always has that happy smile. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DALLIN! We love you!

P.S. After a while the music can get obnoxious, you know, the kind that sticks in your head. It never turns off. Click on the little speaker button at the top of the video to turn the sound off.