is becoming a young man. yes. i know. i've known it was bound to happen. but it really hits home these days. he has a girlfriend. she lives in our neighborhood. they talk on the phone and hang out at each other's houses almost every day. he took a punch in the mouth defending her. they exchanged xmas gifts yesterday b/c they were too excited to wait. yes. my son, with his own money, picked out by himself, diamond earrings - REAL diamond earrings!!! small, but still. she loved them. she also went with us to his xmas concert last night. ahhhhhhhhhh bittersweet.......
