2013 started with a bang! Back in the studio, organizing, planning, budgeting, updating and oh, yeah- shooting. This family was a great way to kick off a new year. 
I suggested my kids might be willing to stand in and maybe even convince a few of their friends to participate. I immediately second guessed my offer and wondered about their level openness and compassion. I worried social norms might get the better of them, especially Katie, being in high school.
Well, I did not need to worry! I asked for 10 youth and yesterday, 14 showed up with enthusiasm. Some travelled in from Tantallon, skipped class, rearranged their schedules and bused, walked and skate boarded their way to Dal. Every one of them was comfortable representing a mental health issue and gave up their time freely. The only compensation; karma and I think they earned plenty yesterday.
I am so proud and inspired by this new generation coming up. And so proud of my own children and their friends. Thank you!
Tonight I sat down for Sunday dinner with my family and had my world rocked. My son, Sean, is turning 21 this week. He is finishing his degree at SMU on almost full academic scholarship, he routinely volunteers his time to charity, loves to work with young kids, has a great job at TD, and is incredibly protective of his younger sister. I could go on and on- the bright smile, the happy, easy disposition; he is a wonderful son who has become a amazing young man.
This weekend he told me about a party he was going to that involved a stage and several DJ’s taking place in someone’s field out past the airport. I didn’t give it another thought, it sounded like fun.
This evening I noticed some scrapes and swelling on his face and asked him what happened. I assumed he had been playing football or fell off his skateboard. The story he told me immediately shattered my sense of security.
At about 2:00am this morning, police shut down the party in Oldham. It was pouring rain and several people were in tents waiting for the rain to stop. Four locals on ATV’s came by and knocked down the tent that Sean and his two female friends were in. Sean confronted the four and let them know the tent belonged to his friend and they shouldn’t mess with girls; it wasn’t cool. The four guys threw out a few racist comments and left. No big deal.
A short time later they came back and swarmed my son. While calling him nigger, the four much bigger guys attacked Sean. He was hit several times but refused to throw a single punch. Mostly because he is smart enough to know that it wouldn't take much to provoke these guys into getting really out of control. Sean calmly took several blows before he and his friends were able to convince the four to just let them pack up and leave.
It breaks my heart that my boy had to face down four large young men, in a dark field in the pouring rain simply because of the color of his skin. It breaks my heart that we collectively have not moved beyond this nonsense. Who the hell is raising this new crop of racists? And shame on all of them!
As a mother I wanted to go flying off to Oldham, hunt down these boys and rip them apart. Maybe shove their ATVs into a bodily crevice or two. But as a mother I want to set a good example for my children so I listened (with horror) to my son’s story, hugged him and told him how sorry I was that happened to him. I let him know he handled the situation well; with dignity and grace. He was brave to stand up for his friends and for women in general.
Sean has gone off to watch a football game downtown with friends. I hope that what happened to him this weekend does not taint him in any way.
I did not go downtown tonight. I stayed behind and let my mind go to all the more horrible outcomes that could have happened last night. What if Sean had reacted and thrown a punch, what if the Oldham guys hadn’t stopped and let him leave? All the things that could have happened in that big, wet field will haunt my dreams tonight.
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