“Behold! The Only Thing Greater Than Yourself!”

BREATHE!

Tananarive was in Tallahassee at the bedside when Jason was born, and cut the cord. I flew from Portland to Atlanta, and drove down to Quincy Florida to meet my son.

So much potential in such a warm, soft bundle. We bonded instantly, eye to eye, hand to small hand, and shared smiles. It was nighttime, and I had an inspiration. Took him out into the yard, and held him up to the sky. “Behold!” I said. “The only thing greater than yourself!”

Yep. “Roots.”

And I broke down crying. I had a son. And I swore that night that come what may, I would deliver him safely to his adulthood…or die trying.

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Jason was awake early this morning (probably never went to sleep last night!) and was in a great mood, playful, showing off a whip he’d made (“No Massa Jason! Ah wuz jus’ helpin’ yo’ wife adjust her bustle…OW!”) and showing us how he was tall enough to touch the ceilings in all the rooms. I congratulated him on his new height, and asked him how much taller he thinks he is than this time last year. Then, I reminded him that his BRAIN is also bigger, so school is going to be easier. “Is that really a thing?” He asked. Well…technically, it is the brain-mass ratio that makes the real difference, and that probably hasn’t changed, but it IS bigger (True), it is USEFUL for him to have more confidence, and it is KIND to help him reduce fear. A few minutes later he came to me, reminding me that I’d promised to…