Rant #1,739: 21!

On Saturday, we celebrated my son's 21st birthday a few days early. His actual birthday is today, August 23, but we had friends and family over on the weekend to mark this very, very special birthday. We had a simple barbecue, hot dogs, hamburgers, even some sausage that my wife enjoys.

Nothing crazy, just a lot of fun. And the weather held up, which made it even better.

Here are some photos that my wife and my sister took of the occasion.

This year, we are having two celebrations, because both of my son's grandfathers are ailing right now, and really can't travel great distances. In addition to this one, we are having one this coming Saturday at a restaurant for my wife's side of the family so my son's maternal grandfather can attend. The one we had this past Saturday was for my side of our clan, so his paternal grandfather could be part of it.

It hasn't been easy during the past 21 years. Our son has pushed his way past a number of obstacles, and has become a success in spite of some of the naysayers who said he couldn't do it.

The measurement of success is relative, but him beating the odds makes him a success in my and his mom's eyes.

He is a good kid, and like me, he doesn't take no for an answer, and his stubbornness to succeed has made him what he is today.

He works, enjoys what he does, and he has his hobbies, which he can pursue when he has some free time.

When he came into this world 21 years ago, I was in heaven. To have both a son and a daughter duplicated what my parents did when they had my sister and I, and having two happy, healthy kids was all I could ask for in life, and that is what I got.

True, there were hurdles to scale with our son, but through it all--and with the help of some others in his life, including a solid family--he has done all we can ask for.

There are still many mountains to scale, but we have no doubt in our minds that our son will be able to not only scale those mountains, but even move them. Yes, we have lots of confidence in him.

The best thing is that his future has no bounds. My wife and I have always believed in him, and he can go as high in life as he wants to.

He is on the right road now. The future is so bright that we might all have to wear sunglasses in order to see the light that is our son.

Congratulations on reaching your 21st year. You are a man now, not that you haven't been before, but now, legally, you are an adult, and we look forward to your future.

But to me, you are simply the greatest son a guy could ever have.