usc or bust

Our mail carrier, whose name is Bump, showed up at our front door yesterday afternoon with a big fat envelope from USC. Because of the weight of the envelope, Eddie and I decided it must be good news; we promptly hid it, thumbed through the yellow pages, found a store way out south that sells collegiate apparel and got in the car to go purchase two (well, Dad needs one) USC hats. We made dinner plans at his favorite sushi restaurant. Eddie and I went early, slipped the USC envelope inside the menu, put the hats under the table and then tried to act nonchalant as Max walked in. I handed him his menu, grabbed my camera and set about watching Max's reaction through my viewfinder as it slowly hit him that he had been accepted to the Music Industry program at the Thornton School of Music at USC - his dream choice for college. He laughed, then he cried, then there were high fives all around the table. It was one of those priceless moments parents get to share with their children every once in a while if they're lucky. What a great evening!