Christopher enjoyed life...

I was deliberating what to write today, unsure because I had several different thoughts.  I came to sit in Chris’ room and in looking around at his walls I decided to write about his humor.

Chris was very witty.  He was certainly what I would call a knucklehead, but he was genuine and sincere.  He was the kind of kid to walk into my room, see me engrossed in a TV show and ask me in all seriousness "what are you doing?"  Really???!!! "Ummm, watching television Chris"...

He did that kind of thing often.  He also stepped over anything sitting on the stairwell that needed to be carried upstairs - without even seeing it.  I bet your kids do that too… or you do if you are the kid!  For some reason parents tend to plop things on the stairs for their next trip up.  Who wants to do all that extra running?  Grab it the next time you're headed that way.  Why is it that Chris always went right by it?  Even if it was his and it was going to his bedroom?  Clean clothes, bathroom tissue, his book bag... He'd step over it rather than even notice it was obstructing his path.  I think all the kids do it as well as some spouses!  Bringing it to his attention usually got me a shoulder shrug or a sheepish grin. Oops. Whatever!

Simply put; Chris liked to dance.  Ask any of his friends.  He had the moves too.  He might have been big but he got down.  Can you say “the worm?” He could tear up the floor like nobody's business and his sweat-stained clothes were proof.  He had more fun at some of his friend’s sixteenth birthday parties.  I know they could tell some stories.  One in particular, I think it was Caroline's party –When I picked him up I made him sit in the back.  I could have wrung out his clothes and they would have dripped sweat.  Her parents must have been mortified wondering who this kid was but I'd like to imagine they found him humorous.  He enjoyed himself.

I took the boys on a cruise a few years back; I think it was their third.  At this last one, Chris was old enough to go to the teen disco.  There was a designated time, maybe 6-8pm or so when the adult night club specifically catered only to the teens.  No adults allowed.  It had one of those Saturday Night Fever dance floors that lit up and glowed in multi colored squares with the disco ball glistening and music thumping. 
 
Each night Chris would race thru his formal dinner in the dining room and run off to hit the club.   He always looked nice in his shirt and tie.

He met more friends on that cruise!  He still kept up with some.  I wonder if they know he passed?  Well, one night I couldn't stand it and curiosity got the better of me so I hid in the shadows by the door and watched.  Chris was shaking his thing.  I was hysterical because he was so serious about it.  He wanted to get the steps right.  There were these dances the kids would do together - The Cupid Shuffle and the Cotton Eyed Joe.  He tried to teach me too but I know I wasn’t the best student.  He had much more fun with his buddies.  I enjoyed his enjoyment.  That was fun to watch, I'm glad I saw that moment in time.

His friends tell me he had fun at lunch. Although Chris brought his lunchbox everyday (yes a lunchbox at seventeen)... he also mastered the art of swindling food from those around him.  He was good at distracting someone and quickly removing an item he had his eye on.  Be it a cookie or chips I don't know.  Apparently he was liked enough that it was accepted, maybe even expected?!  Couldn't have been fear for heaven's sake because the entire class of 2013 was Christopher's best friend!  Everybody liked him so everybody tolerated his antics, even me.  I was fair game as well - or my plate was - no matter at home or out in a restaurant.  Chris could smile in my eyes while slowly reaching in for a french fry.  I think he did it as much for fun as he did to actually sample the food.   I want to share my fries with Chris again.

So, I'm sitting at Chris's desk as I write, in the brown desk chair.  You can see it in the photo from the other day.  I never wrote in here before but this is nice.  All his posters are in front of me as well as his ipod and football bag and slippers.  I have no idea what I'm going to do with these things.  I see the SHEN green walls too.  Chris sat here every night to do homework.  This is not homework for me though.  Did you go look back at the past blog so you can be here with me too?  You should.  It's a pretty good feeling.  I may write in here more often.  It puts me in a good mood.  I like the lights on in Chris's room too, it feels like he's home.

I hope you will take the time to remember funny things - either about yourself or your kids or your parents or friends or Chris if you knew him.   I hope you find humor in daily life and simple tasks.  I hope you enjoy the moments and share a smile.  I'd like you to think about happy memories and be thankful for those around you like I'm thankful I had Chris and now I have you.

Thank you for reading.