Sunday, January 26, 2014

Moments with Augie

Augie (gray shirt) ready to play the xylophone at school concert
Periodically I look up from writing our book and realize that it's been two weeks since I changed clothes, washed my hair, or posted on the blog. Okay, only the blog part is true, but I have definitely been trying to stay focused. So here I am, checking in and sharing just a couple of the precious moments that keep me going.

Augie had a tooth pulled last week and spent the rest of the day here. His face was swollen and full of Novocain when he arrived, so he kept to himself and focused on building Legos. If you asked a question, he answered with a grunt. Because he couldn't hold his mouth closed, he developed a noisy but effective method of slurping so he wouldn't drool.

Dancing the quadrille in school conceert
So it went until about an hour after he'd arrived. Vi and I had on our tap shoes and were tapping around the kitchen. Augie looked up from his Legos and ventured one word: "Dance." "Okay," I said, not really knowing what he wanted. He guided me into the den, took his position across from me, and began the quadrille he had taught me a few weeks ago. I would call it a square dance, but his music teacher gave him a more elegant term and I'm all for that. He and his classmates performed the dance at a concert last week, and on this day he showed the same enthusiasm in spite of his discomfort.

Another hour later, he happily ate a gigantic lunch and still later said he said no thanks, he didn't need another does of Tylenol. Resilience. It's a wonderful thing.

The next morning he was showing me his newly arranged (world's largest) Lego fire department. He has at least 25 different fire-fighting vehicles including trucks, cars, helicopters, a plane, a large boat, and two fire stations. He showed me the first fire truck, parked in bay number one in the old station. "This is the first one I made," he said, sounding like a historian giving a tour of revered old things. "From this blossomed all these other creations."

Being a third-generation obsessive-compulsive, as he is, is probably a mixed blessing. But right now it gives him awesome organizational skills and he combines it with the language of a poet. That combination would serve me well as I work on this book.

 PS, We're back in the polar vortex again. "Brutal cold" was the TV weatherman's forecast. Stay warm. Or cool. Whichever suits you.

14 comments:

stephen Hayes said...

I don't remember having teeth pulled when I was young. They just came out, except for that time my older brother tied a string to my tooth and the other end to a doorknob. You can guess what happened when he slammed the door. He was wrong about it being too quick to be painful.

Jenny said...

It's a wonderful life story you're remembering. I wish I could remember all the little thing about my children. I didn't write them down. My fault. That's why I love bloggin! xo Jenny

Jenny said...

It's a wonderful life story you're remembering. I wish I could remember all the little thing about my children. I didn't write them down. My fault. That's why I love bloggin! xo Jenny

DJan said...

Resilience, thy name is Youth. Glad Augie is better already, and you're right: he's got the vocabulary of a much older young man. :-)

Jeanie said...

I can't think of a better way to take a break from your writing efforts than dancing with your grandchildren.
I love his pride and his description of his Lego creation.

Unknown said...

Music, dancing and grandchildren are 3 of the best things ever! Glad Augie is feeling lots better and gave you such a wonderful break!

AiringMyLaundry said...

I'm so glad Augie is doing better!

Ms Sparrow said...

It sounds like Augie takes things in stride and that is a wonderful trait.
I haven't been out of the house since Friday, except to take food out for the birds and squirrels. Thank goodness for computers and and writing projects!

Grandmother Mary said...

He's such a smart and interesting boy. Good motto for 2014- keep dancing!

Far Side of Fifty said...

Quadrille sounds so much better than square dancing! He has an awesome arsenal of Fire Fighting vehicles..how wonderful! Those Legos are something else.
I hope your work on your book is progressing!!
I am tired of all these Vortexes from the Polar region..how about a warm Pacific vortex for a change. Stay warm:)

Sally Wessely said...

I always love reading about your amazing grandchildren and the relationship you have with them and they have with you. It truly is priceless.

I'm also impressed that you are working on that book. It is good to have a project during these cold days.

Deb Shucka said...

I love your Augie stories. Amazing language from such a young child. I hope these cold days help you get that book done. Stay warm and safe.

troutbirder said...

Fond memories of legos a favorite activity for our two sons....

Red Shoes said...

I dunno... for some reason I got stuck on not having had a bath or changed clothes or blogged in several weeks...

... and I couldnt move beyond that..

HAR!!!

~shoes~

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails