Who IS this Pikachu?

I've been inspired to talk about my Pikachu. My young wild-haired Pika Pika! Pikachu is 14 now...he was a Valentine's Day baby and I thought about naming him Valentino...Tino for short. Sooo glad I didn't. Pikachu is much more fitting. I decided I will refer to him as Pik throughout my blog at times...pronounced peek.

I remember when Pikachu was about 2 years old. He started to put all kinds of small "fings" (things) in his pockets. Luckily they had come out with cargo pants with all the many pockets. He loved finding coins, rubber bands, small pieces of broken somethings...anything that was small enough to fit in those little pockets of his. Fast forward twelve years and guess what I am finding in the dryer's filter? Yes, small "fings". He does his own laundry and forgets to clean out the pockets so I get to find all these small surprises; which are endearing actually. It reminds me that he's still my little boy.

When Pikachu turned one, some friends brought him over a couple of little gifts. I remember opening one of them and wondering to myself "What is this thing?" It was the yellow Power Ranger...I came to find out a little later that the yellow ranger was a girl. I thought it was cool that they were giving my one year old an action figure! A girl though? Hmmm.

I'm glad that Pikachu doesn't have too horrible of memories of when I was with his dad. We fought all the time and I was not happy. I know he sensed it at the time; I'm just glad he doesn't remember. Pikachu was 4 years old when I met Sweets. It's been great to have a solid example in Pikachu's life and Sweets love him a whole lot too. He still sees his own dad on a regular basis as well. His dad is really good to him. He wants to be involved in Pik's interests and he's very supportive that way. He just doesn't make the best decisions in his personal life; which can sometimes affect his own kids...he has a daughter who is either 12 or 13 and a son who is about 14 months. He's not married and he hasn't really held down a stable relationship with a woman because he's not the committing type. I was sitting in the living room reading one Sunday afternoon, when Pikachu came in. It seemed like something was on his mind so I put down my book and asked him what was going on. He told me that he loves his dad so much but that he wished that he was a better person morally. Of course, like most mothers, it pained me to see that this caused him some mental anguish. We talked for a long time that Sunday afternoon. It was nice, just my son and me.

When Pik was about three years old he started showing some real interest in drawing...he really had a knack for it. By the time he was five he was drawing better than me! He really likes drawing anime'; which to me it looks a lot like those wacky Japanimation cartoons. Anyway, he's good at it. He draws what his interests are: guns, and these little guys...more small "fings" right? I need to get him into an art class, something more serious than the ones they offer at his middle school.

So some time last year Pik went up to Sweets and asked him "Hey Dad, have you ever heard of Jimi Hendrix?" Another time he came up to me and asked "So, WHO was Bob Marley? Was he like a surfer or somethin'?" The kid LOVES music and he's no longer clueless. He listens to all the classics: Hendrix, Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, The Ramones, and one of my favorites Guns n' Roses! Seriously, this kid is coolness inside and out. His hair is his pride and it looks pretty cool, although we do have to tame it down a little for church. He plays the drums and is taking guitar lessons. He likes his guitar teacher because he'll make him sweet Punk Rock compilations and play duos of Kansas with Pik on their guitars. He already knows what kind of car he wants and if he were here he could tell me the year...all I know is that it's some classic Mustang. Someone is selling theirs nearby and whenever we drive by he makes me laugh with his face plastered against the window making sounds of groaning with wild yearning.

In school, he doesn't do too shabby either. He's bright and his teachers really like him. In fact, when we went to Parent-teacher conference last month ( I always make my kids go with me, just like I had to with my mom) there was one teacher that when it came our turn she about jumped out of her seat exclaiming how much she LOVES Pikachu. I just kept laughing the entire time..it was so ridiculous...borderline obsessive, I tell you! She just went on and on how the other students should be jealous of him and that most of those other kids are pure idiots and that Pik's papers will forever hold a special place in her heart and be on display on her wall of fame and then she got down on one knee and proposed. Alright, I'm kidding, but seriously the woman was all nuts about my Pikachu...I sill love to tease him about it.

Pik keeps me laughing all the live long day with his silliness. One of his favorite things to do is to sneak up on me using his "stealth and ninja-like qualities" (this is how he prefers to describe himself) and scare me to the point that I actually pee my pants. He is crazy, but crazy cool too. His church leaders like Scott Davis and Jeff "Duffy" Knowles are always telling me how he is the life of the party and that all the scouts want to be like Pik. It's fun to hear...I know how fun it can be with him around.

He's not the most patient, but he does try. I know that it's hard for him a lot of the time because he's such a perfectionist and this can be detrimental at times. I just want him to know that I'm so proud of him for wanting things that he does to be perfect, but when they're not that I love him just as much. One quality that I love about him is that he is apologetic. Apologies come easy to him and he's humble and genuine about it. He is a deep thinker, asking deep questions that make me delve into my own philosophies on life. He can see people's true feelings and I know it's a gift that he came with. He is sweet with his young siblings. He is 7 years older than Noni Girl, 9 years older than Chookie, and 12 years older than Treatums, so you can imagine how crazy things can get around here! He is great to step in and help without being asked when the chaos has turned into too much for me to handle alone. He is sweet and will give heartfelt hugs when he can see that I really need one. I love that kid!

It's pretty awesome to have him around. He's like my cool little friend; introducing me to new music and always letting me know that I'm a pretty cool mom. I like the person that he's turning out to be and I am so proud of that young man.

More cool stuff on Pika Pika:

• I just read in my journal that when Pik was about 7 he told my niece Flodi (pronounced fludee) that when he grew up he wanted to be a rockstar and the his instrument of choice that would take him to stardom would be the mandolin!
• Pik used to say some pretty sweet prayers like" please bless those ill ones that they can get money to get repaired".
• He lets me play "Rock Band" with him (even though I'm probably pretty lame), and he lets me pick out the songs we're going to do....I always sing.