So, anyone considering going to our 15th reunion? Cheesy themes and ugly websites aside, I’m potentially interested in attending, to see long-lost friends and to get into NYC to visit my terrific aunt Christie. But, before I commit myself and my very reluctant husband, I wanted to check to see who was thinking of coming. Drop a note!
Tag: Family
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The Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens
I have spent a fair bit of time in south Florida, my family purchased a condo there in the late 70s. When I was a kid, we’d visit go to Parrot Jungle, Monkey Jungle, the snake place (Serpentarium?), Lion Country Safari, all the crazy kid places. We also spent a fair bit of time in the Everglades, admiring the egrets, herons, and anhingas and watching for crocs. We used to go to a seafood restaurant (Joe Muer’s) that was located on or near Yamato Road. I was always intrigued with the exit off I-95 for Yamato – a Japanese name among the more standard streetnames Atlantic Blvd, Sample Road, Gateway Blvd, Boynton Beach Blvd.
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Why I like football
I’ve always been a football fan.
I grew up in the midwest in a family of University of Michigan graduates. I had no choice about which team and which sport.
Grandpa Greiling’s 1974 Christmas Card, I’m the tallest of the little ones.
Dad used to tell stories of his high school football career, ended with a knee injury, but his sister hotly contests he had one at all. He was a storyteller, and preferred a good story over truth, so I think I’m siding with my aunt on that one.
When I was about seven, I made my dad to buy me a football, and I think we even tossed it around once or twice in the front yard. I was trying to make up for him not having a son. The funny thing is, I don’t really remember watching football games with him, except maybe the Super Bowl. He was usually moving, he worked on Saturdays and we did more structured things on the Sundays we were together.
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I suppose I should be ashamed
Husband is gone for a whole week, and my boss keeps asking me (hopefully) what trouble I’ve gotten myself into.
Unfortunately or fortunately, the craziest, most deviant thing I could think to do was root for the Colts against the Patriots. Yes, I know this pits me against said husband, his immediate family, and the dreamboat UMich alum Tom Brady, but Peyton Manning and the Colts were due. So there.
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Power outage
We lost power last night while Theo was in the bath. Nathan lit candles all over the house while I sat with Theo so he wouldn’t get scared. I held his soapy hand with Becca in the other arm.
Nathan then started a fire & we all ate the melting ice cream from the freezer. I nursed Becca by candle light in complete silence a few moments later.
I noticed how pretty our house is by the flickering light. You don’t see dust, cobwebs, child crayon marks, or fingerprints. Just shadows, lines, and warm expressions. It seemed almost meditative to talk softly while watching the fire.
I read to Theo by flashlight in his bed and then let him blow out the candles. We read in bed by candle light after the kids went to sleep & enjoyed the sounds of rain on the roof.
It is amazing how peaceful it is without electronic distractions. We fell asleep about 9 pm!
I was jolted awake by all of the lights coming back about 10 & walked around the house, slightly sad, turning them off. It all looks so harsh under electric light. I remembered losing power when we were kids being a great adventure.
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Parenting
I told Theo he could pick where we went on our morning errand. So, in the car, I ask “do you want to go to Target or Toys R Us?” “Toys?” “Yes, Theo, Toys R Us or Target?” “TOYS, TOYS, TOYS!” So, off we go, to use my $10 gift certificate). I let him pick which ever Thomas train he wants. He lights up when he sees Salty and hands it to me, pointing out the ones he knows “Edward, Emily, Henry…”
So, we are checking out (takes forever, the stockboys gather ’round Theo, admiring his Air Jordans, which made him really shy), and they ask him if he wants to sign up for the birthday club. “Of course” he says & everyone laughs.
We leave (the same way we came, in a monsoon) & he asks if Salty will fit on his track. He gets all excited when I tell him it will.
Rebecca falls asleep on the way home & Theo loves watching the rain & the big trucks on 75. I tell him I bought him Salty since he has been such a good boy. I tell him I know Rebecca has needed Mommy a lot & that he has been very patient waiting for my attention. All of this when he hasn’t even felt that well. I told him I was proud of him & that he was a wonderful big brother. He sat up so tall & smiled so big, like he would levitate off the seat.
I am sitting in the front, feeling all proud of myself for making this a lesson and helping raise such an angel. He tells me Rebecca is sleeping and that he won’t talk too loudly.
We get home & he vaults out of his seat to play with Salty, forgetting what he said & waking her, but she is smiling at him.
I bring her up the stairs, serene in my knowledge that our son is exceptional and our daughter will be as well.
As I pass him to get Rebecca’s lunch ready, he says “Mommy?”
“Yes Theo?”
(smiling sweetly)
“I want to go back.”
“Why Theo?” (Was it watching the trucks? Waiting for the rain to subside in the parking lot & talking about the sounds it made? My telling him how proud I was of him in the car?”)
…………………………..
“I need Henry too.”