The Snake Story

We all have different memories of this classic family story.  Something like this happened.

We all went camping in October and the Daddy and the Grandpa were deer hunting.  Christopher (that's what we called him back then) was 5 and Carson was 3.  One afternoon I took the boys on a walk down a dirt road near camp.  The sun was warm and life was fair.  We discovered that a snake was also enjoying the sunshine on the road ahead of us.  Christopher bolted and ran back about 50 yards.  I stayed put and was semi-paralyzed.  Carson picked up a stick, charged forward and started to hit the snake.  I think he persuaded the snake to leave the road and go into some bushes.  Did he kill the snake?  I can't remember.  I don't think the snake was a threat, he seemed to be sleeping.

I feel like I'd better fulfill my promise to give y'all a story.  About Carson.  My sand-paper child whom I dearly love.  The first 11 months of his life he was just about the happiest thing you ever knew.  We quipped about how he knew how to be content whatever the circumstances.  He still has that quality and knows how to make the best of a situation.  He's a good shrugger.

So, funny story #1:  We were visiting relatives in San Diego in 1987.  It was Christmas time, we'd been in several different homes.  Road weariness was descending upon us all.  One evening Carson blew a gasket.  I took him back into a bedroom and we had a "talk".  Carson's eyes were shining fiercely and intensely. Three years old, he announced, "I'm serious at you."  Trying to keep a smile off my face, I asked him to repeat what he said.  "I'm SERIOUS at you."  Well.  Obviously, there was a gap somewhere.  "Are you seriously angry, Carson?"  "Yeh, I'm SERIOUS."  Oh-kaaay.

It took a while for me to make the connection.  He was mimicking me!!  Whenever I gave a command that was reeeeeally important I would annex it with the little phrase, "..and I'm serious."  His little mind saw my face and translated that word in a way that made sense...anger.  It's incredibly humbling to see your sins manifest in your children.  Lord, have mercy.

Hey Everyone ,

If you are reading this you have just met my Awsome Mother!!!

Carol is her name and she is the Bestest Mom ever but I am quite surprised that it took her this long after knowing my friends and I all have blogs and that she would indeffintely have to comment on them so if she does and you come to check out who the heck it is well its Carson's Mom.

She lives in Oregon and she cooks mean food that fills even big boys like me because she knows about large quantities and four always starving boys. You all know how much I love food and she is the main reason I have such a healthy appetite.

Anyway she should be less obvious with her password and quit using old dead guys as passwords. He He He....... evil grin

Her Loving Son,

Carson