They grow up so fast

Today marks a new phase of life for our family.  The baby of the family moved out and is on his way to Chicago.  The baby, mind you is 25, but he is the baby, and the only boy of our bunch so he has been coddled by not only me, but also by his two big sisters. 

As your kids grow you are always excited to see what the future holds for them and still the heart strings tug a little when they head out to find just what that is. 

Josh will be fine, he is going to be joined in Chicago by his girlfriend and they will have successes and failures but it will all work out.  He has dreamed of this day for a long time and I have as well.  I have watched him act and tell jokes for a number of years now, always being so proud of what he is doing.  And now he gets to spread his wings and see just where they take him.

So as of today, a piece of my heart lives in Chicago.  I can't wait to see what happens next. 

Love, Support, Laughs and Farewells

I haven't posted for a very long time.  It is my goal to get back to regular posts.  As I type this I am really tired from a long day and night, but wanted to capture my feelings before ending the day. About four years ago Josh decided to give stand up comedy a try.  He had gotten second place at a contest at SIUE's "Funniest Person On Campus" contest.  He has always enjoyed being in front of a crowd and making people laugh.  The picture above wasn't taken by me because I wanted to be a part of the photo.  This photo was taken by the Xtreme Bingo caller after a night of fun with all three of my kids, my son's wonderful girlfriend and some of the best friends anyone could ask for.  The stage we are on is at a comedy club in Fairview Heights, Illinois called Hey Guys Comedy.  This place holds a special place in our family's hearts because it was the first place that Josh took the stage at an open mic.  Two of the club owners are in the photo with us because through the last four years they have helped develop Josh into a comedian that is comfortable on stage.  He has had a few over the years that have given him valuable information and opportunities, but this club has become a second home for him.  

Note, this club is an hour and a half from our house.  I know if I get on the interstate by 5:15 pm I can get there in time to get seated and have a cold drink before the show starts.  I wish it were closer, because if I had a place like that near me I would go all the time.  Laughter is something that our world lacks today.  We need to laugh more and criticize and nit pick less.  

When I go to Hey Guys, especially when I am there to watch Josh perform, I love seeing the crowd's response to the person on stage.  I love comedy and I have seen some of Josh's best performances and some of his not so great ones as well.  It always amazes me when a joke is found hilarious by one crowd and barely gets a smile from another.  That is what makes a comedian's job a challenge.  

Josh is heading to Chicago to give his acting and stand-up a shot.  I know he has a lot of hills to climb and will encounter a lot of road blocks, but I am excited to see what the future holds.  Wish him luck!