Thursday, July 5, 2018

Sebastian is Eleven!

by Pa Rock
Proud Grandpa

My second oldest grandchild, Sebastian Phoenix Files, is eleven-years-old today.  He lives in Oregon with his parents and brother and sister, and we only get to see each other two or three times a year.  Because I don't get to see Sebastian very often, he has always changed each time that I do see him.  That makes it feel like he is growing up very fast - and, of course, he is.

I was living and working in Kentucky when Sebastian was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and he was just a few weeks old when his Uncle Nick, Cousin Boone (who was eight), and Pa Rock boarded the train in Topeka, Kansas, and headed west to meet the newcomer!  We got off of the train in Flagstaff and rented a car for the drive south to Phoenix.  As we drove down out of the mountains and headed across the desert to Phoenix, we were challenged by oppressive heat, but a rare thunderstorm hit as we drove into Phoenix.  I have always felt that we managed to somehow create that rain and bring it in with us.

Boone spent part of that trip calculating how old he and Sebastian would both have to be before they were able to play together.  Sadly, they saw each other so seldom over the ensuing years that the opportunities to interact were rare.

That was in July of 2007.  Three months later I moved to Phoenix for a new job, and got to spend a little more quality time with my second oldest grandchild.  One night I even babysat while Sebastian's parents walked to the Arizona State Fair which was being held just a few blocks from their home.  We watched "The Polar Express" on television, and, years later, that movie had become one of his favorites.

Sebastian, happy birthday.  Have a great day and don't eat too much cake and ice cream.

Pa Rock loves you, buddy!

1 comment:

molly. said...

Thank you, Pa Rock. Love, Sebastian