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(those eyes, those eyes)


THANKSGIVING

When you know the future, it can do funny things to the present. As I was growing up, I remember my parents telling me I should be thankful for whatever chore or assignment or rainy day came my way because I could be dead tomorrow. It didn’t do much for me. I was never very impressed with the tactic. However, I could safely ignore it because it was a probability. Anything could happen. It wasn’t a certainty. Sam’s flight to Croatia, and his year-(century)-long stay in Zagreb is a certainty. And it’s affecting every moment I spend with him now. I guess you could say that it certainly focuses my life quite wonderfully. I guess you could also say that I should remember the starving kids around the world. I mean, yeah. And yeah. But that doesn’t change the reality. He’s really going. December 30.

When I first heard the news of Sam settling in Croatia, I spent a week stomping around, furious and how could they do this and how could it possibly be good for Sam…. yadda yadda yadda. Sonja helped me understand why this trip was so necessary, and I tried to let go my anger. It was Paul who finally convinced me, who instinctively knew the way to get my full support. See, when my son John was born Mary spent the first two years at home, providing full time caregiving while I worked. When he turned two, I took over. For the next two years I spent every day with John, watching him grow, sharing his joys and his pains, and all that other good stuff. They were the best years of my life. Nothing comes closer to heaven for me than that. So Paul looks at me, reminds me of my time with John, says he’s always been envious of that, and this year will give him time with Sam. No work, no stress, just play (in that amazing, exhausting, stimulating, challenging, intellectually exciting- watching brain development happen in front of your eyes- and fun way that play so encompasses the child’s world). How could I resist that? He had me by the short hairs, and all I could do was buck up and get off their backs.

Each day with Sam becomes even more precious than it was prior to the Croatia plan, not surprisingly. For Thanksgiving we drove down to Chadds Ford, PA, to Mary’s brother and Sister-in-Law’s place, a good three hour drive.

Tim and Maryann have a magnificent house surrounded by acres of
trees, and Sam loved all of it.

But he fell mostly in love with Tim’s tractor. Sam has a particular fondness for mechanical beasts of all descriptions: his favorite place in the world is anywhere he can find a good “CONTSTRUCTION ZONE.”

At first he wanted to simply admire the tractor from afar. He watched Tim teaching Paul and Sonja, before he would venture too close. But after not too long, he was willing to sit with Grandpa and Tim behind the wheel. Afterwards, watching Tim grade the driveway, Sam simply stared in a wonderful mixture of awe and pleasure. A mixture that few photos can capture (which is an excuse for my complete inability to get the shot)

Another pleasure was throwing sticks. Simple, yet effective. Encouraged by John, Sam would count “1…2…3…4..go” and John would toss the stick into the gully. Then they would reverse, with John counting and Sam throwing. Try it sometime. Betcha it’ll bring back a few memories ?
Afterwards it was time for some chores: specifically, leaf blowing.

As it was getting dark, and we moved into the house, Tim brought out a rocking horse on steroid springs…. And, even better, a pair of cowboy boots to go with it.

And we couldn’t resist the group photo with horse.


Tim also brought out a natty nautical cap that Mary was fond of. Notice how Sam is eyeing it. Mary got the hint quickly and even though it rather didn’t fit, Sam really liked it.

Then it was time for a homey diaper change in front of a lovely fire. Not sure if this qualifies in the exotic-diaper-change-locales photo series, but hey, you gotta love those boots. Yes, his diaper was changed and his boots stayed on. What a man.

Dinner time and the cameras came out. With all the photos taken, I’m hoping one of you who were there will send me some to put on Sam’s blog. No matter how big or small the meal, Sam still enjoys getting fed and Dad enjoys encouraging him and demonstrating the proper mouth technique, whether it’s eating or blowing out candles.

After dinner came the family entertainment phase, which Sam was quite happy to lead, performing on Hammond Organ and Vocals. First he and John had to discuss the appropriate chord changes for the opening song
.

Then Sam had to give instructions to the band. And then it was a long hot rendition of Yellow Submarine, with Sam squeezing out the impassioned lines.

The set list (for the collectors out there): Yellow Submarine, All you need is love, All Together now, Puff the Magic Dragon, Owl and the Pussycat, Twinkle Twinkle b/w ABCD.

The finest moment, and the best song, and the one that most enthralled Sam (who was trying to jam to it on the organ) was performed by Mary’s brother, Theo. It’s called Little Rabbit Fou Fou, and it goes like this:

(spoken) “The Good Fairy woke up and looked down into the forest and she saw Little Rabbit Fou Fou scooping up field mice and bopping them on the head. So she came down to Little Rabbit Fou Fou and said ‘Little Rabbit Fou Fou I’m going to give you three chances to be good, or I will turn you into a goon.’ The Good Fairy woke up the next day and saw Little Rabbit Fou Fou scooping up field mice and bopping them on the head. She sang:

Little Rabbit Fou Fou I don’t wanna see you
Scooping up the field mice and bopping them on the head.

(spoken) ‘You have two more chances to be good, or I will turn you into a goon’ The next morning, the Good Fairy looked down and saw Little Rabbit Fou Fou scooping up field mice and bopping them on the head. She sang:

Little Rabbit Fou Fou I don’t wanna see you
Scooping up the field mice and bopping them on the head.

(spoken) ‘You have one more chance to be good, or I will turn you into a goon’ The next morning, the Good Fairy looked down and saw Little Rabbit Fou Fou scooping up field mice and bopping them on the head. She sang:

Little Rabbit Fou Fou I don’t wanna see you
Scooping up the field mice and bopping them on the head.

(spoken) ’I have given you three chances and now I have no choice but to turn you into a Goooooooooonnnnnnnnnn.’

And according to Theo, the moral of the story is “Hare today, goon tomorrow.”

The party lasted into the wee hours, a good time was had by all, and Sam lasted longer than his Dad, but not by much.




(p.s. don't forget to click on both the small photos- which will make them larger- as well as on the highlighted words)