Lisa Petrarca's Blog: My Baby's 18!! How'd This Happen?!

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

My Baby's 18!! How'd This Happen?!

On April 3, 2013...my baby officially turned into an adult! 18! NO...not my baby!! That's what was going off in my head, outwardly however I shouted, "HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY LIJEY!" So as I celebrate my official "man"...I'll take you on a little trip down memory lane with me (tears falling.)

When Elijah was little he was the most stubborn little guy ever. He would stand in the corner for hours rather than apologize and be done with his punishment. As he got older, he rarely needed to be disciplined and was always such an incredibly good little boy, doing his homework without being told, making lunch for himself along with all of his brothers & being their little gofer (go for this and go for that.) He always had a huge beaming smile on his face...happy to help however he could. He was such a little angel, but still had that stubborn streak that was impossible to break.

Elijah's stubbornness begin to display itself most often in the area of sports. When he played basketball, if he got the ball taken away from him by an opposing player he would use his incredible speed to chase him down and take the ball back, whether he fouled him or not...he refused to let someone get the better of him. In baseball, he seemed to take note of anyone who on the rare occasion had thrown him out while stealing a base and as a catcher, he'd return the favor.

THAT LOOK SAYS IT ALL! LOL!

In his younger years during track, there was a boy named, Eric who seemed to beat him in the Southern California Championship 400m race every year. This didn't sit well with Elijah he didn't like coming in 2nd place in anything. He became so determined to beat him that he had me take him to the local track and train for 2 months in advance so he could take 1st place. Of course he finally beat him during his last track season before heading into high school. CHECK...another goal off the list.

STILL WINNING AFTER ALL THESE YEARS!

As a 5 year old boy playing flag football he had set one very important goal that he wanted to achieve in high school; he had one final chance to accomplish it...this year, his Senior year. This goal was by most standards almost impossible. But his sheer will, stubbornness & determination kept his dream burning deep inside. He had an incredible drive to see it fulfilled...despite the odds & the school's history of losing the "BIG ONE." Elijah wanted to win a CIF Football Championship. He wanted to set a school record. He wanted to graduate with a CIF ring on his finger & see his childhood dream fulfilled.

As the team won game after game, his dream seemed closer to a reality, until a semi-final playoff game against Foothill. Edison (Elijah's team) was behind 16-14 with less than 2 minutes left in the game. I began to feel literally sick and nauseous as I could only sit and watch my son's childhood dream slip away. But Elijah wasn't ready to give up, his stubbornness, perseverance and sheer will to realize his dream kicked in. Elijah was in at running back and they gave him the ball...the game looked hopeless as he appeared to be caught in the backfield...BUT SOMEHOW, HE REFUSED TO GO DOWN!

He ran on two consecutive plays 14 & 23 yards with the determination of someone who had a goal to reach. It took only 40 seconds to run 37 yards, and set up the game winning touchdown to seal the win. They pulled it off ! They advanced to the big game...the CIF Championship...one step closer!

When Elijah stepped onto the Anaheim Angels Stadium field to play in the biggest game of his life, I knew that my son and his teammates would not let this long awaited goal slip away.

ELIJAH-TEAM CAPTAIN #9

They played the game of their lives and my stubborn son, who refused to let anyone or anything get in the way of his dream, achieved all that he had hoped for in front of a crowd of 9,807. On that special night of his Senior year, as the final seconds ticked off the clock, the scoreboard flashed the 28-10 final victory score! An incredible fulfillment of a 5 year old's dream set into motion so many years ago!

When the noise died down and the stadium began to clear, Elijah seized the moment, lying victorious on his field of dreams!

ANGEL'S STADIUM AFTER THE CIF CHAMPIONSHIP WIN!

ELIJAH HANGING THEIR CIF CHAMPIONSHIP FLAG AT THE ASSEMBLY

THE DREAM RING!

I know that as my son continues to seek new dreams, he will accomplish everything he sets his mind to. He has an incredible stubbornness that has grown over the years into a perseverance that breaks through roadblocks, pushes past set backs & difficulties, always keeping his eye on the prize, and achieving the seemingly impossible without shrinking back or giving up.