So Connor looks thrilled to be retro-boy with his goofy mom at the school 'Sock Hop'. I was foolish enough to sign up to staff the Sweet Shoppe (yes with an e) to serve licorice, pop, popcorn, root beer floats, and cupcakes to sugared-up grade schoolers. I am still shell shocked!

Connor was recently recognized on a local radio show as "The Cool Kid of the Week" for a good deed. He was interviewed on the radio, awarded a medal of honor, a Cool Kid plaque, a pizza party from Little Cesar's, Blizzards from Dairy Queen, a piggy bank, and an awesome backpack from a local company Brenthaven. I wrote the station the following letter about why he is oh-so-cool.

"There are not too many occasions that parents can actually brag and beam about their children's accomplishments, this is actually one of those times. I thought that with so much ugly news out there today, something positive might be what everyone would like to hear.

Last week was spring break in Bellingham. My 10 year old son Connor is spending his days at the local YMCA 'adventure' camp. Yesterday the kids tried their hand at rock climbing before swimming in the indoor pool. All participating swimmers must have a certain level of competency to jump in. Connor, after much over coming of fear, finally learned to swim two summers ago and was more than happy to splash with all the other kiddos.

My husband and I have been working, as many parents do, to have Connor be more in the present and less in his imagination. We have worked with him to be more aware of his surroundings and those around him, and it seems that he was able to do just that. He noticed a boy underwater. He observed that there were no bubbles coming up from him at the bottom of the pool. He dove in and investigated only to find this boy was unconscious. He tried to pull him up but knew that he was too small so he urgently alerted the life guard who dove in and pulled out the drowning boy. The pool cleared as C.P.R. was performed and the boy was resuscitated. YAY!

When I picked up Connor at the end of that day the check out person handed me a letter regarding an incident in the pool. I stated that it must have not been Connor since I did not hear anything about it. The clerk told me that Connor actually saved the day. As soon as I was told this I hear Connor atop the YMCA stairs chirp "Hi Mom!" and he stayed there and smiled. As I learned more about his quick thinking several kiddos came out to join Connor and they all chanted "He's a hero!" I turned to face my beaming boy and clasped my hands to my cheek - silent movie style - and batted my eyes and swooned saying "My hero!" He came bounding down the stairs and into my arms.He was happy to call family to share his incredible news.

When he called my Dad he said that he wished he could share this story with his Goggie (my mom) because she would have been the proudest, and she would have been. Since my mom's death in January we have been talking a bit about why we are here and I told Connor that I believe that we have done our job if we leave the world a better place on our way out than it was on our way in. and he has done just that. All the rest is icing on that cake.

Just wanted to share some good news today in an age where bad news seems to be the norm. Now I must go off and try to make the world a better place too! What are you gonna do?"

This past December I thought I needed to find a hobby so I picked up a "Teach Yourself to Knit" book and a few cheap skeins of yarn at the local Joann's and started to knit a few scarves. The first two I made I gave to Mom who took this self portrait with them a week before she died.

I soon found that knitting is part therapy as I try to cope with her loss. Since January I have not put the needles down. From time to time I have conversations with her and have even heard her tell me that she loves a project I am working on. I am pissed that now I'm gaining proficiency she cannot be a recipient of any new work.