Travels With Gaga

 Of the five of my grandchildren, Messiah is by far the busiest.  He has to be in motion, at least with his hands, most of the time.  He loves to build things, he loves to run and jump and is unaccustomed to the concept of sitting still, unless he is engaged in an activity that takes his full concentration.  He rolled over in the hospital at 24 hours old, he walked at 9 months, and if you turn your back on him outside, he's up a tree or on top of a fence.  When walking to the bus in the morning, he runs down the sidewalk way ahead of me, with me screaming, every single day, "WATCH THE DRIVEWAYS!!!!"  One thing I've learned in the years we've lived here is that most people are extremely mindful when backing out onto the street, but my heart is in my throat the entire time. He has a specific thing (many of them, actually) that drives him nuts. He cannot STAND to have someone clean up a project before he feels he's done with it, so if he starts building someth...

We drive down the street where a newly renovated apartment building has balloons outside the rental office. Messiah:  Gaga, what if there weren't no balloons? Gaga:  ... Any balloons, Messiah.  What if there weren't any balloons? Messiah:  Yeah. Gaga:  Where?  At the party store?  Walgreen's?  The grocery store? Messiah: ANYWHERE! Gaga:  Uh...um... Julian:  Messiah.  Nothing would change.  The world would be the same.  Technically, it wouldn't make any difference at all. Gaga:  Well, I don't know...I think it would be sad if there were no balloons anywhere.  Balloons are fun! They're colorful and make people happy.  I like balloons. Messiah:  OK, so what if there weren't any? Gaga:  I guess we'd have to buy more flowers and party hats and decorations.  We'd still find a way to celebrate. Messiah:  I think it would be bad.  Very bad.  Julian:  Messiah, don't worry.  The...

 With the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine, we committed anew to spend time with each grandchild individually, giving them the attention and space that Julian has enjoyed his whole life.  This weekend it was Jaylon's turn.  When you have them separately, their personalities really reveal themselves; they are not just feeding off each other or showing off for their siblings, or jockeying for position.  It took Jaylon a good two hours to calm down enough for us to see what his real likes, interests, and conversations are like.  He is by far the silliest of the three boys, and also extremely provocative; pushing the envelope at every opportunity.  That said, after he calmed down, he was dear and delightful and in some ways very matter-of-fact and straightforward.  We played, we attempted to read to him ("too boring"), our dear friends came over to visit with him, we had dinner, he took a bath, and I got him dressed for bed.  On the way home, he starte...

 To be honest, driving the boys from their house to my house in the morning, cooking them their favorite breakfast, and taking them to the bus can be tiring.  It's a lot of driving, it's early rising, and by the time I am scheduled to start work, I've already been up and moving for four hours.  FOUR HOURS.   The flip side is the reward.  Having kids captive in the car (ok, I'm also captive...) for a half hour, then feeding them and checking off the requirements (backpack? check. mask? check. tablet and charger? socks?  glasses?  snack? check, check, check...sometimes) and waiting at the bus stop gives us all a predictable, reliable routine.  I know that living closer to their school would get them possibly an additional hour of sleep, but having that hour with me, I tell myself, cannot be all bad.  We talk a lot most days.  And most days, they're great.  One or the other of them may start off on the wrong foot because their sh...

 Messiah:  Gaga, why am I allergic to dogs? Gaga:  I don't know, honestly, sweet boy, I guess you just are. M:  I hate it. G:  I hate it, too.  It makes you uncomfortable and- M: ITCHY!  IT MAKES ME ITCHY! G:  I know, that must be a drag. M: Gaga, why is Mamaw allergic to cats? G:  Ummmm...not sure.  Just like you're allergic to dogs, I guess. M:  Gaga! Don't talk about that any more.  It makes me disappointed.  Can you get me a fish?

 Julian:  Gaga, did you know parachutes were invented in France? Gaga:  Nope, I did not.  I do know that parachute is a French word, however.  "Para" means against, and "chute" means fall.  So, against a fall. J:  Did you ever see the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de.......uh, I can't remember G: I have seen them, both the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe J:  Can you jump off the Eiffel Tower?  With a parachute? G:  You can. technically.   I don't know that it's permitted, though. J:  Or a hang glider? G:  Uh, again...it is probably physically possible, but maybe not permissible. Messiah:  Why do some birds flap their wings, and others don't? G:  Sometimes they're flying (flapping) and sometimes they're gliding.   M:  I wish I could fly.  I wish if I put my arms out. the wind could carry me. G:  It would be fun, but...how would the wind know which times you wanted to be carried away, a...

 Julian:  Gaga, do you have any extra masks in the car?  Gaga:  Yes, of course.  And I ordered more.  Because we have lost 18 since March 9th.  I got the same kind because I think you like the colors. Julian:  WE???  You mean YOU lost some, too? Gaga:  I was being generous.  I don't think I lost any. J:  Gaga?  Do you have any lotion in the car? G:  YES! I just bought a bottle for the car so- J: (interrupting)...So when I go to basketball practice we don't have to be embarrassed that my knees are ashy. G:  Right.  That. Messiah:  Gaga, do you have any small packs of tissues for my backpack? G:  Yes.  Got those when I got the lotion J:  Are we coming for dinner tonight? G:  Yes, I'm picking you up at school at 5:15 and you'll come for dinner. J:  Gaga, you and Mamaw are really good at life details.