By Brenda Cannon HenleyBeen giving a good deal of thought to some changing patterns taking place all around me these past few months. It started when Ted was rushed to the hospital for admission from a rather routine doctor’s appointment in Houston. We drove over to the office thinking about where we might choose to eat lunch after the appointment and wondered if there were any shopping we should take care of while there. I suppose it is a hangover from living on the peninsula for seven years. When we travel to a bigger city, we try to get everything we need. We laugh about it now and the first time I ran up to the corner, less than a mile from our home, to buy a few groceries, I came back crying.

“What’s wrong with you?” “Have you had a wreck?” “Are you OK,” asked my husband. “Nothing is wrong,” I answered. “Do you realize that I went to the store, bought a few groceries and came back home in about 20 minutes?” After living where you ride the ferry both ways over to Galveston or drive in to Winnie or Beaumont, if you need something that The Big Store might not have, it was a sensation to be savored.

Neither of us are very often ill and thank God, we’ve had few injuries since our marriage, so with me having my shoulder rebuilt in December, his hospitalization in March, and Steven’s 18th birthday in April, and his graduation from high school on June 1, our lives have seemed to be on a whirlwind course, much of the time requiring action and thoughtful prayers. Life is moving on, folks, and I’m praying we’re keeping up and accomplishing what we’d like to have done when we take time to look back.

Last night I sat and looked at his beautiful graduation invitations for his big event at Lamar University in the Montagne Center, and I wondered to myself, “When did he grow up?” I well remember bringing him home from the hospital, first day of kindergarten in that big brick building, riding the bus to big school, his first overnight stay with a friend, and the many days and nights of music practice. Faces of his friends swam before my eyes and I thought of each of them and prayed that they, too, would do well.

I caught myself wondering, “Have I taught him all he will need to know to be a good adult, a contributing member of society, and a happy person?” “Does he have goals and the wherewithal to make them happen?” “Is he on a good path as far as education and a profession or job?” “Have I spent enough time on the little things that will some day be the big things in his life?”

On his 18th birthday, when we all had been joking about him being a man and being full grown as the Texans say, I wrote him something serious in his birthday card. He read it three times and said, “Oh, MaMa, I get it. I really do.” I hope he does.

It was simple and not elegant. Nothing great came to my mind as I pondered what I would say to him on this important occasion. I actually bought him two cards — one that was funny and light and the one that I wanted him to remember, which was more serious.

I wrote carefully and straight from my heart… You’re a man now they say. So, I want you to:

• Manage your habits, don’t waste your time, but have fun along the way.
• Accept responsibility for your actions and always be kind to others.
• Never, ever, give up on the dreams God has given to you.

Don’t allow any ill or ignorant adult to waylay you on where you’re going with your life. If you are attracted to acronyms, you’ll note that the three leading words spell MAN, which you are today by the world’s standards, but you’ll always be my little boy and I love you very much.

Much success to all our graduates and it is my prayer that each of them will reach their goals and that their journeys are pleasant.

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788 or at [email protected].

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