The Light, and Humor, That Can Emerge from Darkness

One of the greatest joys of life is that moment when your life and the life of another result in a new life being born – a beautiful baby emerging into the world.

Sometimes, however, life doesn’t work as expected. Sometimes that new life doesn’t survive pregnancy. Sometimes that life is born, only to die soon after. Sometimes joy is replaced by sorrow.

Early in our lives my wife, Jackie, and I went through years of infertility issues and procedures, five ectopic pregnancies and their accompanying emergency surgeries, and one miscarriage. The idealized vision of a joyous birth and happy family appeared to us to be just that, an unattainable idealized vision.

It was during this time that Jackie found a support group at Florida Hospital in Orlando called the Heal Group. Its purpose was to provide a safe space and comfort for those who had suffered pregnancy or early infant loss. The experience we had within this group was a wonderful example of truth in advertising – it was healing. The opportunity to share your story and listen to the stories of others while in the company of a group leader whose calm, insightful, cathartic wisdom created a space that was both inclusive and personal was just what we needed. Whether our experience in the group had anything to do with the arrival soon thereafter of our beautiful daughter and then several years later of our handsome son, who knows, but years of futility were wiped away.

A few years ago this nearly two-decade-old positive support group memory continued to resonate with my beloved wife, and she felt the need to offer a similar group in Happy Valley. She connected with two women, Evelyn Wald at CHOICES and Lydia Myers. Together they created HEART – Helping Empty Arms Recover Together – and twice a year began offering a six-week, one-night-a-week group meeting.

During one of those six-week sessions, Jackie met a couple – Jenn and Chris Stubbs. The feel-good portion of this story is that about a year after going through the HEART Group, on Sept. 30, 2014 Jenn and Chris welcomed Mason Thomas Stubbs into the world.

And what a fine young man he has turned out to be.

Through the magic of social media Jackie and I have stayed updated on young Mason as he grows and spreads his wings here in Happy Valley. One of Mason’s always-developing skills is the ability to say the darndest things. He is so good at it that Jenn started sharing Mason’s humor with the world by posting the best ones on her social media accounts.

So with a nod of my hat to Art Linkletter, and a desire to demonstrate the light that can come out of the dark, I present to you the verbal stylings and wit of young Mason Stubbs, comedian-in-training. I hope you enjoy them.

“Any minute now, I’m going to be a grown up.”

“Want to hear something annoying about The Barenaked Ladies? They’re not ladies …. and they’re not naked!”

“I finished my breakfast. I’m ready for dessert now.”

While playing ConnectFour, Jenn blocked Mason’s move. He responds, “Well, that was diabolical!”

Mason sees Jenn packing up clothes: “Oh, Sweet Motherboard – WHAT ARE YOU DOING??!”

Jenn, watching Mason do something dangerous: “Buddy, that is fraught with peril.”
Mason: “WHAT is FART with peril????!!”

Jenn: ‘Let me brush your hair.’
Mason: ‘My hair is awesome. Don’t doubt my style.’

In the car on the way to school: ‘We need some music in this humpty-bumpty!’

Mason notices a house with Easter eggs hanging from its trees: “Uh… technically, that’s just weird.”

‘Mom, you want me to go to bed. But, I want to read three books. Let’s negotiate. How can we turn this around?’

Mason: “MOM!!! My heinie’s broken!!!”
Jenn: ….?
Mason: “It has a crack in it!”

Jenn: ‘Mason, you drive me crazy.’
Mason: ‘That’s fair, ’cause you drive me nuts.’

Mason (while staring at a Valentine’s Day cookie): “Momma, what do I need to do to get some of that sweet cookie action??”

Jenn: “How was your nap?”
Mason: “No good. The Abominable Snowman tried to eat me so I had to use the Force. That didn’t work so I had to shoot lasers from my hands. Now I’m sad. So… I need chocolate cake.”

“Mom!! Great news!! I have a big mouth……..just like you!!”

“Momma, hold my toy. I’ve got business.”

Jenn: “Mason, I made dinner…”
Mason : “Uh, Dad, can you test it to see how good it is…?”

Jenn: “You are a smart, kind and thoughtful little boy.”
Mason: “I think so too.”

“Momma, you make my heart so happy, it fell into love.”

“If bad guys are mean to me, they’ll feel bad because I’ll hit them with my poop and my poop is powerful.”

Jenn: ‘Mason, please pick up your toys.’
Mason: ‘But, I only have these two little, tiny hands…’

‘Momma, I want to give you allllll of my kisses.’

‘I know the colors in a rainbow. Red, and green, and blue, and…..VANILLA!’

‘Momma, your singing makes me sad.’

‘Mommy, I can’t sleep in this bed — it had pee in it.’

‘Playing with trains fills me with happy!’

Mason: ‘Momma, I love you. You’re beautiful. May I have a snack, please?’
Jenn: ‘Well played, kid.’

‘Momma, stop. Your kisses are too loud. They scare Santa… and babies!’

Jenn: ‘Mason, what do you what for breakfast?’
Mason: ‘Pancakes and hot sauce.’

Jenn: ‘Mace, I’m going on a short work trip. If you’re good for Daddy, I’ll bring home a special treat. What kind of special treat would you like?’
Mason: ‘Money. For juice… and bread!’