THIS ENTRY IS CALEB APPROVED!
The last month to six weeks has not been an easy time for my boy Caleb. School is not going well (he is not in school this semester--looking for work-not going well) and he broke up with Rose about three weeks ago--I could give much vitriolic commentary about Rose, but that would just put me in a bad spot and who wants to be in a bad spot? I will say Caleb is an 18 year old young man who feels deeply, has high highs and low lows (guess who his mother is???) and I was not sure what direction to give him. Until last week when I realized how deeply Caleb was feeling about this all. I thought, I will call Sam and Jane (his grandparents). He flew out tonight to Nashville TN where his grandparents Johnson met him with literally open arms. And took him to Shoney's and fed him salad and cottage cheese and fried chicken and shrimp. He ate it all. He just called.
We have not been in much contact with the grandparents Johnson over the last two years. But I called last week, we wept, they were so glad to be asked to be there for Caleb, and Caleb was so excited to go. I dun a good thing. Sam and Jane Johnson were the founders of Hillmont camp over 40 years ago, about 45 miles east of Nashville, in White Bluff Tennessee. The camp has grown tremendously over those years, now affiliated with Christian Camping International. It has many beautiful buildings-- some rustic, some like hotel rooms nearly. And of course there are pool tables, and a pool; archery equipment and a ropes course; and lots more. The Johnsons built their home on seven acres of the camp; an incredibly beautiful house. They are kind of retired now but once camp operators, always camp operators (and they are Baptist too--Free Will Baptists.) Caleb will work while he is down there which is good. And relax some. And get his head cleared. And be loved on and held accountable and maybe even get some driving lessons in.
He will be there at least two weeks The last three days I have seen him happier and healthier than I have in a long time---writing rap lyrics, singing, playing his guitar, drawing, reading, sewing patches on his new hoodie with dental floss. Not things I have heard or seen from him in a while. And lots of smiling. And seeing better with his new glasses.
Okay, I am going on and on. But I sing a song of praise tonight for grandparents who live on a camp and conference center, and who will get to be with their deep thinking and feeling, artsy, musical grandson and they all will be well.
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