"The Phone Calls Home"

I used to cringe when the phone would ring and I looked at the caller ID. I was expecting, “Mom, I’m really done here”; or “Not what I expected”; or “Can I come home for the weekend?” I got lucky.

Even though the college he finally chose was not what he “loved," or his school at graduation, it was better than coming home.  Of course, I felt the same way! Stay, please stay.

So, our phone calls consisted of stories of how he got a senior to drive him to Penn State (20 minutes away) to see his friends, or how they went ‘cow tipping,’ couldn’t even imagine what that was. Silly me!

The best call came a few weeks after he settled in and was getting used to being in the ‘country.’ He was exceptionally excited and so I think this was going to be big news on grades! Silly me again!

Instead he said; “Hey mom, we have an addition to the family!”  Well, after I picked myself up from the floor and took a deep breath, I replied, “It better have four legs instead of two!” He replied, “Of course it does, I just got myself a bearded dragon.”  “Oh, yeah! Lovely” I thought, “Just what I always wanted.”

He went on to explain why. Ready for this? It was because I never gave him drum lessons! His youngest brother started taking lessons and had a new drum set. In addition, he didn’t get to play ice hockey!

Another activity the same brother was also doing. Wow, what do they say about payback? It is a $#%&*! So, now I’m feeling somewhat guilty and ask what we have named our new family member? His reply? “Diablo, The Devil.”  Seriously, he must really have wanted to play the drums and ice hockey. 

Well folks, Diablo lasted 6 long years, traveled cross-country with him to his new school and home. He became a mascot to all those who befriended and partied with him and two weeks ago sadly passed away.

I must say he was a cool pet to have, made no noise, only flared his beard at me once and usually ate all the crickets before I had to put ear plugs in. We are all sad that he is gone and my son will miss him so. Try to enjoy all those phone calls, because those four or five years go really fast! Got Phone Call Stories? Please share them with me in the comments section.