Just Say Yes!

Months ago,

I gave a little boy a hula hoop,

tonight, I drove four hours

to see him perform with it...

and was amazed!

My paddle board friend and I,

send texts back and forth

in the a.m.

Paddling? The P word

no one can resist,

when, where, who?

Then one that's states

she's bummed to be missing

Caden's (her grandson)

talent contest that night!

Hmmm?

A tug, a pull

having been the one to give

this cute little guy

the hoop in the first place.

This is a no brainer.

Well, actually it was

a gift to his mom

for the hospitality

of a May stay at their

lovely accommodating home,

while doing a show.

But when Caden got a hold of it,

and created his own moves

without instruction or help,

he was a natural,

I was enchanted.

We smiled a lot at each other

over that week end

for our mutual "hoop fascination."

(And the last time I had

something in common with

a eight year old boy?

...I was probably,

the same age and trying

to beat him up a tree...)

So, yes, enchanted!

Later that month, he decided to

hoop for his 3rd grade talent contest

but "mom" was concerned...

(like most moms would be)

Was it just for girls...?

(well, it was when we

were growing up)

Would he get teased?

All valid and common concerns,

according to my hoop instructor!

So I looked around

and found the coolest male hooper,

who hoop dances blind fold...

now there 's an idea!

Secretly, I was cheering Caden on.

I wanted him to perform

and was certain

he would show the school

hooping is cool for boys too!

He's that kind of little guy!

That was the last I heard

of it until this morning's text!

My immediate response was

"I don't want to miss it either,

Road trip? Let's go!"

Hours later, we are on the way

to Henderson (two hours away)

to a third grade talent contest,

My new friend,

(his grandmother,) and I,

(okay...so when, did this happen?

That my friends now have the

title "grandma"

attached to their names?)

Tho, its a lifeless trek across

the hot landscape

we manage to jabber

every mile away,

with colorful, insightful

and unending subject matter...

a perfect adventure...

Caden doesn't know we are coming

...and it's his mom's birthday!

Even Better!

Now, it's been sometime since

I have been to any kind

of third grade event,

let alone, elementary anything.

What a surprise...

the presentation was cute, hip!!

Not the stuff I remember ours being,

with yawn worthy dance numbers

and dusty old songs!

This was cool kids doing

cool dances

and singing cool songs

(okay, I have overused the word, cool)

Lady Gaga, a big favorite.

The teachers doing a

fantastic job making sure every kid

got a chance to shine.

We don't see Caden

until he's on stage,

No one has seen his routine yet,

...not even mom,

all his own idea!

We sit in nervous anticipation.

His dance is to a popular

country western song,

with cowboy hat and the hoop

whipping lasso like around his waist,

there's even a couple linedance moves,

and his cowboy hat waving in circles,

rodeo style.

It is so COOL!

(promise, thats the

last time...well maybe not)

and the crowd thinks so too...

cheering uproariously.

I have to turn away

cause, geeeeez,

my eyes are watering.

(What a Baby.)

But so proud to be a part of this!

The best part is his face when

he sees his Grandma Lou Lou

afterwards,

so lit up and pleased!

Makes me think of the

10,000 Maniacs song

These are the Days.

these are days,

you'll remember,

never before,

and never since,

I promise,

will the whole world...

be as warm as this.

And as you feel it,

you'll know its true,

that you are blessed,

and lucky,

its true that you

are touched

by something

that will grow and bloom!

We had to pull out

our reserve stories

for the return trip

back across the desert,

its late and staying awake

a challenge

but for fairly new friends

there's still so much to say

while agreeing over and over

how glad we were

that we went,

how important it is to

at times to say, lets go!,

to give into things that pull,

make it an adventure!

If I hadn't...

If we hadn't...

we would have missed out

on something

that made us both cry and beam

this young man's shiny moment

on taking a chance,

doing something

so cool,

other boys will want to do it too.

( I am hoping so anyways)

So if you get a chance

to go across the desert late at night

for something out of the ordinary,

attend something elementary,

or try something unconventional

feeling a tug...?

just say YES!!!

Cause these are

the days to remember.

Pam Piper Rain