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Aunt Barb: Georgie, do you like school?Georgie: Yep, I think I like it too much!Keep your fingers crossed this never changes!
Today Georgie and Sarah were outside playing in the front yard when two of the neighborhood kids came over. Sarah & Georgie don't really know these kids too well, but it didn't stop the kids from asking if they could borrow Sarah & Georgie's bikes. You see they had to get somewhere and wanted to ride the bikes so they could get there faster. Sweet, kind-hearted Sarah practically gave her new friend her bike while Georgie saw an opportunity to be had. Georgie sized the kid up and told him for a dollar he could use the bike. The kid brought Georgie a dollar and away he rode! Well about that time, their father came outside and figured out what had happened. Needless to say, George wasn't as impressed with Georgie's sense of entrepreneurship as he should have been. He also wasn't impressed that the kids let virtual strangers ride away on their bicycles. The neighborhood kids returned the bicycles, and Georgie returned his hard earned dollar. I think we're going to have to keep our eye on that one : )
I called my brother on his birthday (July 9th) to wish him well and find out what fabulous surprises his family had in store for him. He wasn't even home from work when I called and it was already 10pm on the east coast. He said he had to work late and then the boss said let's go have wings and beer. So, of course, George went. His brother-in-law Patrick went along for the ride, actually he was the ride. He seemed genuinely surprised when he told me that Sue and the kids were upset about him not being home - afterall, it was just another day. Men! I talked to Georgie the next day and he was hot! I've never heard him so mad.
Aunt Barb, when Uncle Pat comes here today he better say I'm sorry or we will never go to his house again and he will never be allowed to come to our house again! I am mad at him because he didn't bring daddy home for his birthday and he better say I'm sorry or else! WHEW...I guess Uncle Pat said I'm sorry because tonight when I talked to Georgie, he was goin' fishin' with his daddy... and Uncle Pat.
Today I talked with Georgie on the phone. He told me they were moving back to Florida on Wednesday. He's going to miss grandma, Uncle Steve, Uncle Chuck, Aunt Max, and...me. I love that. He made sure to let me know the pool isn't blue, or even green, it's black because the man didn't take care of it, so he'll have to fix it before Georgie and Sarah can go swimming in it. The pool is at their house in Florida. The house is currently being rented, but my brother plans on reclaiming it as soon as he can. Georgie's most excited about having his own room again with his own bed. Aunt Barb, Sarah puked last night...twice. She woke me up. He and Sarah have been sleeping on the same air mattress on the floor in the den at grandma's since they moved to Pennsylvania in March. I guess those two things alone explain why he's excited about having his own space. Aunt Barb, you wanna sing a song? He loves to sing with me on the phone. Old MacDonald had a farm EIEIO and on that farm he has a dog, with a woof woof here and a woof woof there everywhere a woof woof, old MacDonald had a farm... How's that Aunt Barb, what do you want to sing now? I choose You Are my Sunshine which is usually the song I sing to him, mostly because he knows it and will sing along with me. But also because when I need to be cheered up, all I have to do is think of him, my own little sunshine, and it makes me feel better. We finish the song. I love you Georgie. I love you, too Aunt Barb. I love you more! I love you to Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, and New York! Wow - I wonder where New York came from? He must really love me if he's including states he's never lived in before. I'm going to squeeze you to pieces, kiss you all over, and tickle you the next time I see you baby. Will you swing me around, too? Yep! Aunt Barb, don't hang up I'll be right back. Okay. From afar...Aunt Barb, I'm brushing my teeth....I'm almost done.....don't go anywhere....okay, I'm done! Are you there Aunt Barb? Yep! So, I guess since you're moving to Florida, I can't take you to Kennywood when I come home, huh? Nope, I guess not. Maybe the next time you come and I'm here we can go. Maybe. Aunt Barb, it might not be open when that is though. Yeah, it might be winter, and Kennywood's not open then. Hmmmmm....well, will you come visit me in Florida? Probably baby, but I'm not sure when. Hey Grandma, what you got? Can I have one? And before I know it, the conversation's over - no I love you, no I miss you, no goodbye, just my Mom laughing as I lament how quickly he gets distracted and dumps me without so much as a by your leave. Hmph!
Well, apparently my brother has decided after just four short months to pick up his family and move them from Pennsylvania back to Florida. Last June, George and his family moved to Texas after George got laid off and couldn't find steady work in Florida. He moved to Texas to work with our brother-in-law in his air conditioning business. It didn't work out. In March, I went to Texas and helped George move his family back to Pennsylvania. He moved in with my Mom in an effort to save money while he took over our uncle's machine repair business. I thought things were going well, he was working steadily, Sarah started her new school, Georgie finally got a speech therapist who was helping him, and Sue got a job. He was planning to move out next month into a home of their own. Apparently that all changed when one of his former employers in Florida called him to offer him a job. So, George is going to disrupt his family for the thrid time in a year because he suffers from "the grass is greener" syndrome. Sarah will be in her fourth school in a year...and no doubt Georgie will lose ground in his speech development. On top of all that, he's temporarily moving my babies into a trailer sight unseen. Who knows what kind of condition this trailer's in or where it's at.... I don't understand why my brother is willing to move his family again when there's no guarantee this opportunity in Florida will be any better than what's currently happening for him in Pennsylvania. I just hope he's given a lot of thought to this move. It doesn't make sense to me, and I'd advise him against it. But, as usual, no one asked me or would listen even if I told them how I feel. One day, my siblings will recognize and appreciate my sage advice!
My nephew Georgie can be a little stinker. He is stubborn, just like his dad, and often opens mouth and inserts foot without thinking. Yesterday he talked back to grandma one too many times and got a swat for his troubles. Sometimes I wish I could be at home to help raise Georgie and Sarah. I can only do so much long distance over the phone. I believe of all the adults in their lives, I am the most patient and developmental. Screaming is a way of life at my mom's house. Not so much for me...
I just hope that Georgie learns how to listen better as he grows up. Right now, when I ask him why he's being a stinker, he replies, "My not being bad." Which makes me wonder if he's in denial or truly believes he's not doing anything wrong. With any luck my long distance advice will stick and prevent Georgie from being the recipient of any more tough love.
The other day on the phone, my niece asked me, "Aunt Barb, how's Yogi?" Yogi is my cocker spaniel, and apparently the status of his well-being is what will allow my niece to prolong our phone conversation.
"Well, Yogi's good, but of course he's always a good boy."
"I know Aunt Barb," and I am compelled to ask the next logical question, "Sarah, how do you know Yogi's always good?"
"Well, when we're there visiting you Yogi's always good and he doesn't get yelled at or in trouble so when we're not visiting you he must also be a good boy and not get yelled at or in trouble, so that's how I know Yogi's a good boy." This all said without taking more than the breath needed to start the sentence. I'm amazed that my seven year old niece is more logical than I am most days. But the lesson isn't over....
"Now Percy is always bad, but you shouldn't worry about that because all cats are curious and get in trouble Aunt Barb." Percy, as you might have guessed, is my cat. Full name Percival Simon O'Connor, Percy to his friends. He was named Percy Simon because he was rescued from a persimmon tree he had climbed and couldn't get out of without a little human help. Percy is constantly in trouble. The old adage "curiosity killed the cat" may come to fruition in Percy's case. I again was astounded that my young niece had such insight into the workings of animal behavior.
"Thanks for the advice Sarah, I'll keep it in mind the next time Percy's on the counter and shouldn't be."
"It's okay Aunt Barb, Percy doesn't mean to be bad, he just can't help it."
Ahhh, the wisdom of youth.
I've never blogged before, unless you count sporadic journaling - which I suppose may one day be referred to as the way old people used to blog back in the days before computers. My hope is to chronicle the life of my family, the joys of being an aunt, and the sorrows of being childless when there's nothing more I want than children of my own.
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