When a Boy Can Be a Boy

When I picture a teenage boy, I could picture a few different things. The rebel, who is delightfully pierced and inked or maybe an athletic type who is wearing long, shiny two toned sports shorts. Whatever form it takes, I usually do not picture teenage boys, Young Men, if you will, frolicking with Springtime.

I drive past a large park five days a week. Twice I have seen the same boy out there alone. He carries a bag of bread and stands there feeding the geese. Something about that just threw the proverbial Daily News right into my face with a CRACK. This kid could be with his friends after school. Or watching tv, doing drugs, whatever. But kids are kids....and sometimes I forget that they are happy to do things that don't always involve Wii's, video games, or sitting around looking menacing.

I felt blessed enough to see that. But earlier on this week, I saw another one. A different boy, larger boy, walking home from school. He was crossing a field area and carrying in each hand, a "grandfather" dandelion.

Why do I seem to be coming off with gender issues? If I'd seen a girl do the same thing this post wouldn't exist. Or maybe it would, I'm not sure. HA! Yeah, I'm sure. It wouldn't exist.

I think I was happy to see that Nature hasn't died. That there is more to life in the eyes of the younger crowd, if I like to let these two guys represent the "younger crowd". That they are still enamored with birds that others find repugnant and flowers that you can make a wish on.

Today at the movies, a young teenage boy jumped to open a door for the Humanling and I. I thanked him. Within 5 minutes I saw his father walking with him so I stopped him to tell him what a nice son he had.

As he thanked me, I saw his face change with the immediate reaction of a beaming smile.

These three boys have shown me that although I may look like a Cougar on the outside, my brain was all sorts of breaking the 80 year old viewpoint on today's Whippersnappers. Or maybe I mean Wiippersnappers. Just like with energy, we need to be aware that what we see is only surface. There is so much more going on than any of us can afford to assume.

This photo by the way, is one that I took at Humanling's school's recent art show. Kids can be one of the best resources for amazing (and cheap cheap cheap!) art.