Wherein Cynthia Proves Herself Not On Top Of Things But All Is Well Anyway

Today was the school district's Young Achiever Awards for all the local elementary schools.  Leo had been nominated for an award, as he was last year.  Last year it had gone on and on and on and on and ON....so given that it was starting at 3:00 my mother decided to sit it out (whoops....maybe that was in bad taste).  Anyway....the four of us trundled off to Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.  I don't know exactly WHAT was going on.....generally I think the world of KCPA and the way they run events but today everybody was kept waiting in the lobby until about ten minutes before 3:00.....so of course then it was chaos.  Who knows why but it was a bit odd.

By this point Leo was getting very nervous which primarily manifests itself in grumpiness.  I feel for him though....he is so much like me that I could just feel the pit in his stomach.  We finally got to the door of the Great Hall and the usher asked what category Leo was.  I confidently answered 'academic" and Leo was directed to the first four rows.  Leo told us where to sit and said as soon as he got his award he was coming to get us and we were LEAVING.  I didn't think was the most polite thing but I could tell Leo was getting REALLY stressed out so I said o.k.  Then I said, "oh look Leo----it looks like the academic category is first so it won't be long."  He said "GOOD" and stomped off to the front row where he immediately slumped down in the seat so all you could see was the top of his big old head.

Things started and since they cut out a lot of speakers it was MUCH quicker this year.  They asked everybody to stand while someone sang the national anthem and as we stood there Ernie and I smirked at each other because it was one of those "I never imagined this" moments.  Then I looked down at the front row and instead of seeing Leo standing all I could see was the top of that head.  He was the only one NOT standing.   Man I love that boy.  I mean you can only push him so far.

They started with the academic awards.  All the kids got annoucned and walked across the stage.  No Leo.  Ernie and I just looked at each other.  Did I have the wrong category?  How can I not KNOW these things about my own child?  We looked at the program and read through the other categories. 

Sports?  No.

Ambassador of Goodwill?  Um, I really don't think so.....

the Arts?  mmmm, nah....

Outstanding Student?  huh....maybe....

So being Leo-like I sat there through the whole thing a nervous wreck that he wouldn't be called during Outstanding Student and then what would we do?  Storm the stage and demand them to tell us why we had that damned letter tacked up on our refrigerator?

Not to worry....they called him and my sweet little curmudgeon is now an officially Outstanding Student (along with Owen's friend Eamon I might note....which is actually kind of interesting as Eamon reminds me of Leo in certain ways and Leo really likes him....).

Leo accepted his little certificate and trotted across the stage where he sat for a picture....you could see the defiance in the way he held the little piece of paper with his school's name in front of him and yet he did it.  He padded down the steps from the stage and up to where we were and said, "Let's GO."  And so we did. 

Owen took this picture of us outside the theater.  It may not be the most flattering of any of us and yet I kind of like it....it certainly captures the moment....

My sweet pea.