The objective was to move this huge pile of dirt to the back yard and spread it evenly. Maybe 200 wheelbarrow trips.... This wasn't one of those "required training" moments, it was service, plain and simple. Volunteer time....
So, it didn't even hit me until I was really into my 10th load or so.... there was Alexa, shoveling away, non stop. I stopped... looked up and realized that she was actually there.... no whining, no sass, no saucy quips, no sarcasm.... She didn't complain that she had to go... I don't remember even asking her to come. She just did, and was there....
I was caught off guard. Not because she would never do this kind of work. No, she could work hard when she wanted to. Not that she didn't want to serve, she has done plenty of that. Something was different. Enough for me to pause, watch her do about 10 shovels and then I took a picture, hoping that something would connect later.....
..... I think I just connected. With Landon off at college for the summer, and McKenna in Uruguay and Braden off to Thailand, it was just her. She was the only left at home. It was if she knew that and subconsciously and knew that she was now the new "Braden", the one that we would need to lean on, the one we could depend upon, the one that would be our rock in their absence.
This was her stepping up and doing what it took despite the unpleasantness of it all. It was like she grew up all over again in an instance. I knew I would not see her the same after this. She had crossed that threshold of being a sassy "kid" to that of full grown sentient adult. A bit of a rite of passage in the most unexpected scenario. Maybe I am off, but that is what came to me as I reflected on what caused me to pause and wonder.
I must say I loved the moment I found myself in. I loved catching her doing this, doing it to help someone, doing it for love and the goodness of her heart. Somehow she knew this wasn't the time for all her extraordinary and wonderful sassisness, which is also very fun.
Today is her birthday. She is seventeen. The 20th day of the year 2000. The year of the Dragon. In fact, of all the elemental dragons, she is a Gold Dragon who displays characteristics of being natural and straightforward, which is Alexa to a T. Other notable Gold Dragons are Bruce Lee, John Lennon and Pele.... not such bad company to be in. Gifted with innate courage, tenacity and intelligence, dragons are enthusiastic and confident. They are not afraid of challenges, and willing to take risks.
Alexa does all of this just below the surface. She spouts a bit out loud, but never announces her moves....but underneath she has a heart of gold. No wonder she is a gold dragon. She would do anything for anyone. She has handled an enormous amount of personal and family change and has handled it like a pro. It has to be so hard to be the last one at home, having to deal with Mom and Dad peering in on her every move. Who else are they going to pay attention to? So, yes, she is under the microscope like none of her siblings have had to experience.
The best is when I can catch that most magnificent smile she has, the one she hides, the one she knows about, but reserves for certain boys and when she buys cool new clothes. The one that shows who she really is inside. The one that when she decides is finally safe to show the world, could actually affect the earth's orbit. The one that fills the heart with one glance. It sneaks out more than she would like it to. She has a reputation at stake, one that could possibly be ruined if this particular smile became to "present" too often. So, guard it she must......for now.
But soon.... it will be revealed, she won't be able to stop it... it has to come forth and shine.
I can't wait for that day. It has been 17 years of waiting.... she has come a long way since wanting to "slice my head and arms off" when she was a 3 year old greeting me at the door after coming home from work.... it has been worth the wait.
Let's go Dragon... start blazing your next 17!
Happy birthday!!
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