Got a Happy Story is a community gathering every Friday night where we share stories large and small that have put a smile on our face. It is a time to acknowledge the joy and wonder we experience. The Happy Story diary exists as a way to anchor the community in hope and comfort while we do the hard work of taking back our country. Everyone and all sorts of stories and pictures are welcome. May we find joy and strength here.
soberboy has had such an extraordinary week that I thought I'd share it as my happy story this week. The week just kept getting better and better for him. It shows us how far he has come with all of his medical and psychosocial challenges.
Last Saturday he was an altar server at the installation of our new pastor. It was a big deal since Cardinal Seán O'Malley presided over the Mass. soberboy was one of the five altar servers chosen because he takes his responsibilities seriously. He did awesome during the Mass and had a blast downstairs afterward at the reception.
soberboy, in front of our new pastor, on the left, the Cardinal on the right
Sunday was a quiet day for him. On Monday they had a geography bee at school and he was asked to stay after school the following day for the next round. He was in first place of the 100 kids on his team. On Tuesday he was knocked out in the first round but was excited because he didn't burst into tears. He usually cries whenever he does poorly at something, an aftermath of the adrenaline rush I think. He said, "I just told myself that I was lucky to represent my team. That it was pretty good to get as far as I did." All of those talks we have had with him over the years are finally sinking in. That night he did the Jeopardy Kids challenge on-line. He probably got only about half of the questions so I don't expect he'll get an invitation to the tryouts. Again, he was just happy to participate.
Wednesday he had a half day of school and we went to get the just-released book in the Wimpy Kid series, The Last Straw. I'd reserved a copy for him, which was fortunate since they were sold out. I think the series is too young for him but it inspired him to keep a journal and to work on some fiction of his own. He finished the book in about an hour and has probably read it a dozen times since then. We also picked up a biography of Obama for him.
Yesterday he got his courage up to dance at the Student Union. He's usually very self-conscious and avoids dancing. He loves music, but his dancing skills are sorely lacking. He seems to be aware of that and has avoided dancing at public events. But he was so excited when I picked him up afterward. He felt really good about pushing himself to overcome his anxieties. He stuck with the Chicken Dance and the Limbo, which I think were wise choices.
Today he earned sticker pints toward a pizza party because he was able to play 5 different scales for his flute teacher. And he helped some of the girls with their positioning so that they could get the right notes.
And he came home announcing, "I won a Dragon Award. There were3 other kids in 6th grade who got one too and on the 27th they're having a breakfast for us." He has no idea what it is for, and had no idea that he'd been nominated. He's been tutoring kids in computer lab on his own so perhaps that is where it's from.
So an excellent week all around for him. How was your week? What's your happy news?