March 30th, 2022. 

My son turns 14 today, and my mom turns 77 today. 

They are “birthday buddies.” My son arrived about a week earlier than expected — the most incredible gift for our family!

Naturally, today I’m thinking even more about my son. About the young man he’s becoming. Sometimes I look at him and think Who is this almost-as-tall-as-me, hands-bigger-than-mine, deep-voiced teenager? 

Back in fifth grade, my son was given an assignment — Think of an adjective that describes your personality, but it has to start with the same letter as your first name.

He chose “rhythmic.”

Rhythmic Ryan absolutely fits.

We’ve been enjoying the rhythm of books and music since I was pregnant. My husband and I read Goodnight Moon to my growing baby bump. For several years, that was the last book read at bedtime. (We went through several copies over the years.)

During those nights of teething and just-not-going-back-to-sleep-no-matter-what that every parent knows, I danced with Ryan to songs such as “Angel Baby” by Rosie and The Originals and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli.

Now, as a fourteen-year-old, it makes me so happy to see music and books continuing to play a huge part of my son’s life. 

Readers, which adjective would you choose to describe your personality? Remember, it has to start with the same letter as your first name. 

It’s a difficult question for me. I automatically think of “Weird.” It’s a word doctors have used (more than once) when speaking to me about my autoimmune disease. (You can click here to read “The Hard Realities I’ve Faced After My Doctor Told Me, ‘You’re Just Weird’.”) 

I’m on the search for a new word. 

But for today, I’m happy to celebrate Rhythmic Ryan and Ageless Anne (my mom).