And Then .. He Found His Groove

So, that last post, posted just about 24 hours ago, would make it seem as if our oldest child has no showmanship. No moxie. No cajones.

Today, Kathy and I made a trek to Stephenville for a cousin of Kathy's, Stephen, getting married to Taylor - both are students at Tarleton State U. in Stephenville. Small wedding at a church that looks like it wouldn't last 5 seconds if an F1 tornado were within 100 yards of it. The reception was at a nearby VFW hall. Very old school for a couple 20 and 21 years of age, very cool, very quaint and wonderful. At the reception, the college kids were ready to get their groove on ... and Kole was ready to go step for step with them


Yesterday he was in full catatonic freeze at his school play. Today, he had the run of the dance floor. Yesterday it seemed as if a room full of strangers was the last place he wanted to be. Tonight, without spotlights and a sea of hungry eyes waiting for a crumb to nibble on, he gleefully danced without fear or shame and he was scanning the room to make sure everyone was at full attention of his shenanigans.

The cool thing is, for us, it's not like he came out of a shell. Tonight he was being Kole. Last night was the apparition. He was also a gentleman during the service, mostly quiet, and definitely the star toddler of the night. One in the row in front of us ended up underneath the chairs. The others were ring-bearers and flower girls caught in a spot they did not want to be in. After the bridesmaids and groomsmen made their march, a distinctive cry and howl was coming from the fourier. When the doors flew open a teenaged usher with a beaten-down look on his face was pulling a RadioFlyer wagon painted entirely white, with lace and flowers and billowy things all around it. In the wagon were a toddler-aged flower girl and ring bearer ... and they wanted NOTHING to do with the scene they found themselves in. The girl was crying hysterically and trying to crawl out, while her mother walked along side the wagon holding her in. The little boy seemed fairly at ease with the ride, but was obviously unhappy that he was seated next to Princess Panic Attack. He sat still, but his face looked upwards in a howling cry. The whole scene dripped of a great idea on paper during a bachelorette pedicure session, probably executed perfectly in rehearsal, then became an abysmal failure upon gameday execution - to the absolute delight of all the other spectators in the crowd.

So by those standards, Kole was great just being restless in his seat a few times, and pointing out - aloud - when the preacher would cough or clear his throat. "Coughing!" his little voice would pierce the silence of the church afterwards. Yes, he's coughing, now whisper, gosh dangit! Sweet Karissa, just like the night before at Kole's school performance, sat like an angel in her Grandma's lap, looking at the world and snacking on her own little hands and Grandma's necklace.

Then came the reception. Then the cake. Full of sugar, Kole took the dancefloor and the rest is history. I think we found his calling.