My mom visited yesterday and today. We went to Assonance Park, I mean, Mark Park in Princeton with Anders (a little 10th Grade English humor there).
Watching Anders on playground equipment is a unique experience. The swings kinda terrify him, but he's also kinda intrigued by them. He'll do a few reps in the swing, usually no more than three and then he wants out. Yet, he always points out the swings and walks toward them. He also likes to point out the slide, but usually does not want to go down the slide. What he likes to do is climb the steps up to the top of the slide or the general playground equipment high ground and walk around up high. Then he walks to a point 2-4 feet off the ground and attempts to walk off that point, thinking it's just another small step, which is why I'm usually one step behind him on the equipment.
It must be a funny scene on a crowded Sunday at a place like Mark Park to see a bunch of kids aged 3-11 climbing and running around on playground equipment and then there's this 22 month old and his 6'4'' 235 lb father trying to squeeze through plastic tubes meant for four-year-olds so that Anders doesn't step off the edge.
I fell off a slide at Lake Kanopolis when I was about 2 1/2. I don't remember it hurting, but I remember the fuss that everyone made and I remember that I had just had eaten a hot dog with mustard. I remember the taste of mustard in my mouth and I did not eat mustard again for years afterward because it reminded me of that fall. It's a funny thing about memory because I believe I remember this incident, but it has been recounted so many times over the years by my mom and my uncle Fred that I don't truly recall what I remember and what's just a memory because they told me, but the mustard part of the story is real. They didn't know that.
I spent Saturday night on my long sojourn home with the Seeley Family in Sun Prairie, WI. Dan and I talked many afternoons while he was driving home from work and I while I was driving to work in the fall and spring. I correctly predicted, with the help of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, they'd have a son and the date on which he'd be born 9-9-10, with the help of Brett Favre. We'd talked a lot about our sons on those calls. Reid was described to me as a spirited and willful child who also terrorized his dad just a bit. He appeared cute, curious and harmless to me, but there was one point when he was not getting fed quickly enough when he let out some warning noises that gave me an idea of what Dan was talking about.
I was a good luck charm on the sleeping front as well. Reid has had some trouble sleeping through the night. Well, on my visit, he slept for his second longest stretch yet. Ambient noise helps. They tried tracks like "The Beach," and "Jungle Sounds," but the one that works is Track 5 "Hairdryer." He was a cute baby and joy to meet.
When I arrived back here, I expected to see 9 month old Anders. I was instead greeted by a little boy. He hopped down off the couch and toddled over to see me. He's a lot handier with his words and letters than when I left almost two weeks before. Anders is also more confident in his strides.
So after Mom and I took him to the park, we went to Dairy Queen. Anders was not interested in his baby cone or us. Rather, he joined a family of six where the Mom was handing out dilly bars. The kids eyed Anders warily as he tried to climb up on the padded bench on one side, then on the other. Anders wasn't interested in the ice cream. He wanted to hang out. He did the same thing last summer at the Rain Forrest Cafe. Anders is a man of the people. I hope I'm around for his political career.
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