Jayden's Patience
It was a lovely day -- bright and sunny, warm with a slight breeze. We had picked up Jayden, who came with breakfast in his belly and a handheld water spritzing fan around his neck. He was to help us pick up sticks, trash, and rocks around the yard so we could mow, especially in the wild patch.
Gotta tell ya, though, Jayden scared us. I was helping Spencer pull trash off his pitch fork when Jayden dropped the wagon tongue in the grass and went towards John. I thought he was okay, safe from the highway, my mind was at ease. When I turned to get him back on task, you'll never, ever, ever guess what I saw him doing.
Remember the plastic green water fan hung on his neck? Well, he was bent low, trying to use the blades as a weed chopper....on "leaves of three", poison ivy!!!!!!! NOoooooo!
Oh, boy!
BOYS! The fan got confiscated, and all got washed down, thoroughly! I hadn't seen any evidence of a rash by the time he left, thank goodness.
***
The other day, the whole family was here. Every one vying for a place in the conversation to tell their story, their experience, or to empathize. Jayden backed up to me to be picked up onto my lap. It's his way of saying "I want to talk to you. I'll wait my turn."
When I bent my head to him, he complained, "I want to watch t.v. I don't like all this talking."
His speech tutor has been teaching him to use words to describe his feelings so I wasn't too, too surprised when he said, "I'm upset." I smiled at his maturing, this boy on my lap was 4 y.o.! He explained, "I'm having patience."
***
I was stunned, mostly boys don't pay attention to such things; Jayden did.
The outfit I was wearing to the restaurant was a yellow print high-low blouse worn over a pair of white shorts. A few times this Spring and Summer I've worn it over a white skirt to church.
"That's your church dress", Jayden frowned, then added, "You wear that to church, why you wear it now?"
***
I complimented him, "You're smart."
He agreed, "Like my dad's smart. Yah. My dad is smart."
Period.
And at the end of this lovely day, that's a PERIOD.
Thursday, July 16, 2020
Friday, July 3, 2020
DAY 9, KIDNAPPED HAPPY CAMPER
Day 9, Kidnapped Happy Camper
Plop! We plopped all our stuff into our motel room, Mary, with a twinkle and a smile, turned to John who was settling in for a good nap, "Explain yourself!"
His witty response? "I've been kidnapped."
The Beach Bum!
Plop! We plopped all our stuff into our motel room, Mary, with a twinkle and a smile, turned to John who was settling in for a good nap, "Explain yourself!"
His witty response? "I've been kidnapped."
Yah, he's been kidnapped all right, by the sandman! (Since we were at Tybee Island at the beach that pun's intended.)
We'd shared the driving, John and Mary maybe once, me rarely. I'm not a good passenger. The older I get the worse I get. It all started before interstates existed, when I was a toddler. Weaving up and down and around the mountains of Kentucky to visit grandma I'd invariably get car sick.
Here I hold up my hand, I admit that as a passenger I tell others how to drive, especially to save my stomach. I want the curves smoothed out, the speed controlled, and please don't tailgate -- leave wrecking room. My argument? The guy ahead could be distracted by family or phone, could be a jittery octogenarian, or could be on TheraFlu!
My final plea, as I switched lanes on I-40 forgetting to use my turn signal, "Listen to your elders."
Here I hold up my hand, I admit that as a passenger I tell others how to drive, especially to save my stomach. I want the curves smoothed out, the speed controlled, and please don't tailgate -- leave wrecking room. My argument? The guy ahead could be distracted by family or phone, could be a jittery octogenarian, or could be on TheraFlu!
My final plea, as I switched lanes on I-40 forgetting to use my turn signal, "Listen to your elders."
Spencer spoke up, "I do...their advice is good, but their driving needs critiquing."
At this point I digress to revisit a shop in Tybee called the Tybean Art and Coffee Shop. We ladies were separated from the men but when they reappeared they were drinking coffees! How dare they! Where did they find such nectar?? They took us to some wooden steps that led to a deck that had a little window for ordering and an even littler window for pickup. I asked if the barista could make me my own creation and she said they could so while I waited for my light roast, sugary, peppermint loaded coffee to arrive I turned right to see quite a sight. Those three men, 2 sons and a hubby, were looking like FBI Men in casual clothes...all hats and sunglasses black observing from the shadows with a watchful stance and the patience of a stake out agent. I was nonplussed, then amused. Goofballs!
At this point I digress to revisit a shop in Tybee called the Tybean Art and Coffee Shop. We ladies were separated from the men but when they reappeared they were drinking coffees! How dare they! Where did they find such nectar?? They took us to some wooden steps that led to a deck that had a little window for ordering and an even littler window for pickup. I asked if the barista could make me my own creation and she said they could so while I waited for my light roast, sugary, peppermint loaded coffee to arrive I turned right to see quite a sight. Those three men, 2 sons and a hubby, were looking like FBI Men in casual clothes...all hats and sunglasses black observing from the shadows with a watchful stance and the patience of a stake out agent. I was nonplussed, then amused. Goofballs!
One final night in a motel room in Tennessee, miles from Sandy Feet Retreat, admittedly still dark out, we'd decided to start extra early to avoid heavy traffic to make good time, but Spencer complained he couldn't get Calvin up, that he'd fallen back into bed with one sock on, so I decided to stir him with an adjusted nursery rhyme.
"Diddle Diddle Dumpling my son Calvin, went to bed with his jammies on,
one sock off, one sock on, Diddle Diddle Dumpling my son Calvin."
Then, because we'd seen a sign for Drury Inn, "Do you know the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man, who lives on Drury Lane."
"Diddle Diddle Dumpling my son Calvin, went to bed with his jammies on,
one sock off, one sock on, Diddle Diddle Dumpling my son Calvin."
Then, because we'd seen a sign for Drury Inn, "Do you know the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man, who lives on Drury Lane."
Neither stirred him. You know what did the trick? Spencer stood at his bedside and sang, "All I Want For Christmas" and "Oh, Christmas Tree". That got him UP!
Hungry. We were as hungry as we'd ever been, and began searching the advertising signs for an agreeable place to eat. When there's 4 people, each with eating qualifiers, that can be a challenge. And don't forget the call for face masks, social distancing, and possibly no dine-in which made it that much more difficult. Then we saw one we'd never seen before, First Watch. And people were milling about waiting for their party to be called; it was a good sign.
I guess Calvin hadn't seen such a salad as he'd ordered and received. He was forking it and poking at it and asking. "What is it?" As he raised a green blade that had a similar shape as an oak leaf, I suggested it was mixed greens, a little iceberg, some spinach and a bit of arugula.
"Look at it!" he insisted spearing the arugula, "I can find this in my front yard, and I have rabbits!"
Hungry. We were as hungry as we'd ever been, and began searching the advertising signs for an agreeable place to eat. When there's 4 people, each with eating qualifiers, that can be a challenge. And don't forget the call for face masks, social distancing, and possibly no dine-in which made it that much more difficult. Then we saw one we'd never seen before, First Watch. And people were milling about waiting for their party to be called; it was a good sign.
I guess Calvin hadn't seen such a salad as he'd ordered and received. He was forking it and poking at it and asking. "What is it?" As he raised a green blade that had a similar shape as an oak leaf, I suggested it was mixed greens, a little iceberg, some spinach and a bit of arugula.
"Look at it!" he insisted spearing the arugula, "I can find this in my front yard, and I have rabbits!"
The last day at the last motel we plopped all our stuff on the beds to repack, I turned to John, "Were you a happy camper?"
His witty response? "It doesn't get any better than this!"
The Beach Bum!
Thursday, July 2, 2020
DAY 8, TOUR IN A GOLF CART, HAPPILY
Day 8, Tour In a Golf Cart, Happily
It's the only way to tour Tybee! We cruised the streets, those inland and those bordering the island's edge, in our rented golf cart. As we saw by signs on the slatted walls, written words on door frames, and the rare sea creature cutouts, these were blissful residents enjoying sand, salty sea and sun.
Enjoying the slow ride and open breeze, we deliberately searched the beach colored homes of pastel blue, deep purple, and sea green for their placards...
Sandy Feet Retreat
The Get A'Weigh
Made In The Shade
The Beach Bum
Spencer cheerily tried out a few word combinations himself. He dreams of his own home on Tybee someday...
Bays Bay,
Surfin' U.S.Bays,
Paradise Bays, and his very favorite,
Beached Bays.
We also searched River Street for places to eat. Huey's had a good down-home, hearty breakfast.
The Cotton Exchange had seafood scampi and chowder.
Spanky's pleases the kids with chicken fingers and pizza.
But River House got our vote for fantastic Southern specialties, especially their desserts.
At the River House, Mary noted, "Scallops, a $13 entree and we go at it with plastic forks!" You can thank coronavirus hype for that one. Plasticware was handed out to reduce the spread of covid.
The waitress returned serving our Southern Pecan pies and Creme Brûlée pudding, "How's everybody doing here?" Spencer answered with a frown turned laugh, "Horrible! I want more..."
We had tips for our waitress, LOL:
John, "Don't take any wooden nickels."
Pamela, "Don't mistake that for a Skittle!"
Mary, "Charlie in the third."
Calvin, "Don't eat the candy in the bed."
Spencer "Don't sleep next to a duck!"
But the all time favorite is "Don't eat the pink stuff in the wall, it's not cotton candy."
When Spencer pulled out his money to pay his bill, John caught a glimpse of the green and immediately cautioned, "You did a good job printing that one. It almost looks real."
Back at the motel, in our 5 person mini suite, while we were sitting to chill, and reclining on the pull out hide-abed, and clicking on the boob tube, Spencer asked Calvin, "Which t.v. shows are good?"
When it comes to questionable television programming we have a three strike rule for violence and obscenities, mostly enforced by moi. So, Calvin's response was no surprise.
"The ones' where mom says, "Shut it off!" ROFL
One of us proclaimed, "I'm still on vacation time."
Another said, "I'm on Tybee time."
Speaking of time, Mary was going home early via Allegiant Air. We had to take her to the airport that afternoon. To lift our spirits John joked, "Wait'll 5 p.m., you'll see her tail fly!"
Remember, flying's not the way to visit the island, you must tour in a golf cart. You never know, you might spy a beachcomber's house cheerily proclaiming its "The Happily Ever After" and then where would you be? Why, you'd be on Tybee! Happily!
It's the only way to tour Tybee! We cruised the streets, those inland and those bordering the island's edge, in our rented golf cart. As we saw by signs on the slatted walls, written words on door frames, and the rare sea creature cutouts, these were blissful residents enjoying sand, salty sea and sun.
Enjoying the slow ride and open breeze, we deliberately searched the beach colored homes of pastel blue, deep purple, and sea green for their placards...
Sandy Feet Retreat
The Get A'Weigh
Made In The Shade
The Beach Bum
Spencer cheerily tried out a few word combinations himself. He dreams of his own home on Tybee someday...
Bays Bay,
Surfin' U.S.Bays,
Paradise Bays, and his very favorite,
Beached Bays.
The Cotton Exchange had seafood scampi and chowder.
Spanky's pleases the kids with chicken fingers and pizza.
But River House got our vote for fantastic Southern specialties, especially their desserts.
At the River House, Mary noted, "Scallops, a $13 entree and we go at it with plastic forks!" You can thank coronavirus hype for that one. Plasticware was handed out to reduce the spread of covid.
The waitress returned serving our Southern Pecan pies and Creme Brûlée pudding, "How's everybody doing here?" Spencer answered with a frown turned laugh, "Horrible! I want more..."
We had tips for our waitress, LOL:
John, "Don't take any wooden nickels."
Pamela, "Don't mistake that for a Skittle!"
Mary, "Charlie in the third."
Calvin, "Don't eat the candy in the bed."
Spencer "Don't sleep next to a duck!"
But the all time favorite is "Don't eat the pink stuff in the wall, it's not cotton candy."
When Spencer pulled out his money to pay his bill, John caught a glimpse of the green and immediately cautioned, "You did a good job printing that one. It almost looks real."
Back at the motel, in our 5 person mini suite, while we were sitting to chill, and reclining on the pull out hide-abed, and clicking on the boob tube, Spencer asked Calvin, "Which t.v. shows are good?"
When it comes to questionable television programming we have a three strike rule for violence and obscenities, mostly enforced by moi. So, Calvin's response was no surprise.
"The ones' where mom says, "Shut it off!" ROFL
One of us proclaimed, "I'm still on vacation time."
Another said, "I'm on Tybee time."
Speaking of time, Mary was going home early via Allegiant Air. We had to take her to the airport that afternoon. To lift our spirits John joked, "Wait'll 5 p.m., you'll see her tail fly!"
Remember, flying's not the way to visit the island, you must tour in a golf cart. You never know, you might spy a beachcomber's house cheerily proclaiming its "The Happily Ever After" and then where would you be? Why, you'd be on Tybee! Happily!
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