More Thoughts of Our Son Bill

Since yesterday was our son's birthday I have more memories to share about his childhood. Bill was our child who had a favorite blanket. He enjoyed having it with him and had a pet name for it. One day I couldn't find Bill anywhere in the usual places in the house. I searched outside and was beginning to panic. One more search of the house and there he was sleeping on the pile of dirty clothes next to the washing machine. His favorite blanket was in the pile ready to be washed and he obviously missed it. I guess I got the message that he needed his blanket and knew how to solve his problem. He was so cute sleeping in the pile of laundry with his favorite sleeping companion.

One day after enjoying the swings at the park we couldn't find his blanket anywhere. We searched the whole park, including the trash cans, but no blanket anywhere. We had no choice but to go home without it. This blanket had history as it had been with us since our oldest child was born. It had covered Kathy and Laura as well as comforting Bill.

Bill solved his problem by adopting a favorite stuffed toy, a beautiful white fluffy kitty. It was not a washable toy and looked very much loved in a short time.

Another favorite memory from when he was a toddler is how much he enjoyed playing with his blocks. He would line them up precisely by color in a row. When he was a bit older he became quite skilled at doing puzzles. I bought a puzzle for a seven year old that he could do when he was three or four. I also learned that boys are definitely different than girls. Boys make boys noises when they play with cars and trucks.

We weren't going to have toy guns for our boys but we learned real fast that rule was not going to work. At one of Bill's early birthday parties he received more than one toy gun. I was not going to take his gifts away from him. Besides that, I learned that boys will make imaginary guns. I don' know if I learned that with Bill or his little brother, Griff. The younger one still likes guns.

A very favorite story in our family is when Bill's whole second grade class came to our house to see our zoo. We lived in a little house in walking distance from the school in Coronado. I put most of our pets on our patio for the children to see. We had guinea pigs, hamsters, a pet rat, birds, turtles, a dog and of course kitties. I don't remember if that is all. That is enough though. At one time we had a pet hen. She crowed so we gave her to someone in the country. That is not a mistake- she crowed.

Bill has matured into a son to be proud of. He goes by his first name, Paul, now days. But he is Bill to family and those close to us. We have the same situation with my husband Paul. He is Bill to his family and those who have known him most his life. Grandpa Marvin was also Paul.

Our hearts and prayers are with our sons each day of their lives. Hugs :)