Theremin-like Debut

Star Date 08092016

50 years ago today, The theremin-like, haunting voice of Loulie Jean Norman arrived on television. As I do not believe in coincidence, seems fitting the show that sparked movies, multiple series and movies, etc., this it fits within the 40/40. Moment of silence.

It is odd to not have a little, liquid pain relief. I am pretty sure I have made up for it in cupcakes this week. Last night, I re-introduced myself to liquid pain relief…and did a cupcake pairing. Amazingly, I did neither defile private, nor public toilet. The day is young…though I am not. That said, Pocahontas, Colors of the Wind was the song roaming Charlie, this fine day. So, as any reasonable person would do, I looked up the lyrics. Most Disney songs are fairly short and repeat themselves. I’d include the lyrics, but …they take up a lot of room. Suffice to say, for a savage, Pocahontas had quite the vocabulary. I think not. Also, too, …again, being reasonable, I also spent a good portion of my morning changing he words of that song to things about Charlie. Fortunately for all, I cannot recall any. Mayhaps it was the funfetti cupcake mixed with the firewater. Nah.

Charlie v. ATOI. Casey had a couple of doctor’s appointments set for today. I got to babysit. Win-win. I am not looking forward to leaving in two days. I will likely have to drill holes in my suitcase so the baby can breathe on the trip home. With zero prompting from Charlie or me, Casey took it upon herself to play on my behalf. I applaud her effort. Casey is a trooper. Her account is as follows, but I will skip to the updated score. ATOI gets a point here. Charlie 8. ATOI 2. This is the text I received from Casey, whilst checking in for her appointment:

Where’s your little one?

At home with my dad. He’s visiting from the east coast.

Is it his first grandchild?

Yep. (To play the Charlie game or not to play…screw it lets give it a try) And maybe his last. He just found out he has a golf ball sized brain tumor.

Oh I’m so sorry. My brother had one too. Well actually his was a little bit bigger about the size of an orange they said. (At which point I internally say damn it she wins) Are they going to do surgery?

Yea October 7.

I hope he’ll be okay. My brother went back to work within six months.

Oh that’s good.

And then I checked out of the conversation because she beat me.

Fierce competitors are we Skeelays. I get a tumour and both my daughters want them. It’s like braces back when I was a kid. Kids wore the full on head gear to school and still others would be jealous and want braces. So much so, they would spend time bending paperclips to the shapes of their mouths, then walking around the rest of the day with them in. Inevitably the school nurse would be deployed somewhere on the elementary school campus. No. I did not take the short bus. I ambulated to school. No. I did not wear a helmet…there were no such things back then.

Fast forward. I am struggling to find words today. Yes, Charlie has not been terribly kind today. I suspect this to be more about the end of the trip blues. I am thankful for this opportunity to see family and friends that are family. We have had some good conversations and some good laughs.

Spotlight friend. Jon…the full on laughing man on mine and Charlie’s left. There is no Jon without a Renee. There is no Jon and Renee without a Soph, Noah, Elise, and Megan. Perhaps literally at this point. I met Jon and Renee some almost 20 years ago. I was considering going back to church… did for a short while. The look on the picture above is really not that different for either of us then or now. It is extremely likely that I have said something potentially inappropriate for all ears. Typically to get this kind of response from Jon. When we met, Jon had such the serious look on his face. Renee is the personality…that is clear. Engaging. Great laugh. Great, longish, bouncy curls, naturally greying hair (Yes…keep it natural). Aside from looking serious, I sensed a mischievous side…is this guy making under his breath comments in he foyer of this Baptist church? I sure hope so. Thanksgiving that year was a collection of orphaned folks. Jon and Renee had recently moved to the Bay Area from LA. The hosting couple had moved from MA…if I recall correctly. There was kibbutz (shout out to Steve’s peeps) in the kitchen. Jon was engaged in some sort of conversation that looked so not what he wanted to be involved in. I was at the fridge getting water from from one of the water storage devices that has the spigot. Jon catches my eye and I lean my head back as though I were standing at a public urinal…water into awaiting drinking glass….lower to get full sound effect. Bam. Jon breaks in to well…the same face as above. Since that time Jon, Renee, and I have had some way too little time together. Alas, we make it good when we do. Their poor kids. Jon used to have his kids call me crazy Uncle Kevin. …it has obviously been shortened to just crazy. No differently than spending time with Scott and Sandi, the kids have always been a part and wanted to be part of the conversations. I’ve never understood that from either family, but have always loved it.

It is well past Charlie’s bedtime. Final thought. I am a blessed man. I have lived a life, thus far, that has kept my river flowing with many of the same tributaries. I am ready to head home, but so wish those on this end were also joining on that end.