Happy birthday, Adam

How quickly small people grow into adults! Of the few memories I have of me as a … well, younger than I currently am, is of going to the hospital to see Adam. I’m avoiding thinking how long ago that was but, since Adam can now celebrate this particular birthday with a drink legally obtained in Michigan, I guess it was a long time ago. Let me share a few random Adam memories:

* Adam won the cute baby contest at the Leamington Tomato Festival. He really was that cute (still is, in fact).
* Adam was allergic to cow’s milk when he was small. He was able to have goat’s milk, though. Goat’s milk leads to very smelly diapers. He was a nice baby despite all of that.
* Adam was also allergic to corn products. On the day my dad died, we gave him marshmallows to keep him happy and occupied while we dealt with the things that needed to be looked after. When he was running in circles long after his bedtime, jumping from the arm of the couching and bonking his head without pausing and that sort of thing, someone finally read the marshmallow package and shared the fact that marshallows are made from corn syrup. Without Adam, I never would have known about that.
* Adam was a cool little dude. I remember, in particular, a pic of him as a toddler or preschooler with his hair spiked and his outfit was very Miami Vice.
* Adam had a poem published in a book of poems and stories when he was in elementary school. I have a copy on our bookshelf.
* Adam was the smallest hockey player that I’ve ever watched. It was so much fun to watch him and his team mates chasing the puck like a swarm of bees. Adam always waved when he took his turn as goalie. Adam wore Cooperalls when Cooperalls were cool. It’s the sort of traumatic memory your aunt needs to keep fresh in your mind.
* Adam cut his own hair when he was a kid. Somehow he managed the get the shape of a tulip onto the top of his head. He was *not* impressed when his artistry was captured in photographs.
* I left for university when Adam was still quite young. When we’d speak on the phone, before he’d ask if I wanted to speak to his mom, or when we saw each other, Adam always offered an “I love you, Auntie.”
* Adam is the strong, silent type but he has wonderful smile and he shares my sense of humour.

Happy birthday, Adam. I hope this next year is a great one.

2 Responses to “Happy birthday, Adam”

  1. Tyler says:

    Hi,
    Thanks for linking up to NHL Digest and our review of Cooperalls! I never did have a pair when I was younger, but I certainly envied those whose parents bought them for their kids. Hindsight is 20/20 and I’m thankful I never did get those Cooperalls now!