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things that matter, things that don't
Dec. 26th, 2001 11:36 pmWell, Santa was up to his usual antics this year; gave me a case of laryngitis so bad I could barely croak out directions to the cab driver, coming home from Penn. Apologies to satanichbin and cthulhia, with whom meeting-up plans came to naught (had also hoped to hear from emmatheodd, but apparently, she's sickies too). Now, I'm trying to figure out a way to make bn.com accept my B & N gift certificate, which it is staunchly refusing to do- perhaps in suppository form.
...of course, none of this really matters; just had to stick the obligatory whining in somewhere :P What does matter is that I got to spend (most of) five whole days with my family, which almost never happens. From the top:
Dad is amazingly hale & hearty for a man of 75 with a history of heart trouble; his hearing aid (a new development) whines and whistles amusingly, and his biggest worry at this point seems to be that he's running out of Tom Clancy novels to read. My father is becoming a Buddhist of sorts in his twilight years; hope it's contagious :P
Daniel (bro in law) and I get along well; he was busy doing sinister- seeming repair- type things for most of my stay, so nothing major to report. He seems less tense than in previous visits- the house must be going well.
Meaghan (not quite four) is a delight; sweet heart, saucy behavior-definitely the most Irish of the kids :P Looks just like my sister does in photographs from that age- breaks my heart.
Matthew (almost six) has progressed astonishingly. When my sister first called to tell me he'd been diagnosed with Down's Syndrome, I remember us both crying over the phone- but five years down the pike, it's barely even an issue. He reads, remembers places they haven't been to for months, follows conversations- at 48 months, he was tested at having the cognitive abilities of a 44-month-old. The verbal skills aren't quite at the same level- Meaghan seems to be the best at interpreting- but he's a fine boy, and I love him lots and lots.
Patrick, as always, is the star of my heart- I don't think there's anyone in the world I love more. Seven now- I can still see myself holding that wrinkled, flushed newborn babe- wow. (He still wants bedtime stories from me; who knows how long that'll last?)Astonishingly intelligent (clearly from our branch of the family :P), skilled at sports, already growing well into the role of eldest child- he's the one most likely to share when one of the others is crying, and it makes me love him even more. He's one of a very few people of whom I can (and do) say, "The world is a warmer place because you are in it."
*warm glow*
So, yeah- to cap it off, no sooner am I home, than Nestle promptly leaps straight up onto my shoulder, demands to know where the hell I've been, and settles herself in the crook of my arm for the dreaded purring/cuddling combo. Makes me glad I never used that Grinch user icon I was eyeing...
...of course, none of this really matters; just had to stick the obligatory whining in somewhere :P What does matter is that I got to spend (most of) five whole days with my family, which almost never happens. From the top:
Dad is amazingly hale & hearty for a man of 75 with a history of heart trouble; his hearing aid (a new development) whines and whistles amusingly, and his biggest worry at this point seems to be that he's running out of Tom Clancy novels to read. My father is becoming a Buddhist of sorts in his twilight years; hope it's contagious :P
Daniel (bro in law) and I get along well; he was busy doing sinister- seeming repair- type things for most of my stay, so nothing major to report. He seems less tense than in previous visits- the house must be going well.
Meaghan (not quite four) is a delight; sweet heart, saucy behavior-definitely the most Irish of the kids :P Looks just like my sister does in photographs from that age- breaks my heart.
Matthew (almost six) has progressed astonishingly. When my sister first called to tell me he'd been diagnosed with Down's Syndrome, I remember us both crying over the phone- but five years down the pike, it's barely even an issue. He reads, remembers places they haven't been to for months, follows conversations- at 48 months, he was tested at having the cognitive abilities of a 44-month-old. The verbal skills aren't quite at the same level- Meaghan seems to be the best at interpreting- but he's a fine boy, and I love him lots and lots.
Patrick, as always, is the star of my heart- I don't think there's anyone in the world I love more. Seven now- I can still see myself holding that wrinkled, flushed newborn babe- wow. (He still wants bedtime stories from me; who knows how long that'll last?)Astonishingly intelligent (clearly from our branch of the family :P), skilled at sports, already growing well into the role of eldest child- he's the one most likely to share when one of the others is crying, and it makes me love him even more. He's one of a very few people of whom I can (and do) say, "The world is a warmer place because you are in it."
*warm glow*
So, yeah- to cap it off, no sooner am I home, than Nestle promptly leaps straight up onto my shoulder, demands to know where the hell I've been, and settles herself in the crook of my arm for the dreaded purring/cuddling combo. Makes me glad I never used that Grinch user icon I was eyeing...
