I was sitting in my chair in the bedroom last night watching the news when Catherine came bounding through to say goodnight to us and give us our goodnight kisses.
Kiss, hug, head butt.
Odd thing we picked up over the years, that. I don't know what ever started it, but it's sort of a hug without hugging. Probably had to substitute it for a real hug for some time when we were holding a baby or something. Anyway, a kiss on the cheek, a real hug with arms, and then we touched our noggins together for a moment.
"I love you--sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite."
"Okay, I love you, too, Daddy!"
Off she went in a flash.
Reba was working on work stuff on the bed and said, "We were in the car yesterday going over to Mom's house and Catherine looked at me and said, 'It's almost time to go back to school, isn't it, Mom?' and she just looked so sad!"
I know that look--she's usually such a bounding swoosh of ball lightning, but sometimes she gets still enough to think about things, and sometimes those things make her sad. And the summer, which is already shorter than it was back when I was young, and was made shorter still by her not getting to ride her bike nearly enough, well, it finally hit her that Thursday is the end of all of it until next year.
For me the summers are all beginning to run together, but to her they're all still living individuals--they come for a while for a visit then leave. It's never long enough when they decide to go, and never soon enough till they come again.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at August 8, 2006 01:38 PMHow sweet. I know my oldest two are already anticipating the start of school, which isn't until after Labor day around here.
Summer is too short.
And too dang hot.
Posted by: Sarah G. at August 8, 2006 01:50 PMI'm just glad someone invented air conditioning.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at August 8, 2006 02:05 PMAt least a head butt isn't like the honor my older brother used to bestow upon my parents. He gave a hug, a kiss and a lick. And for some reason, they let him.
Posted by: Jordana at August 8, 2006 02:53 PMNate ussed to try to lick us, but our horrified reaction put an end to it.
Posted by: Sarah G. at August 8, 2006 03:04 PMI will occasionally sneak in a loud raspberry when they aren't expecting it, but that's about it. Licking? Blech.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at August 8, 2006 03:12 PMThat raspberry at our house is known as a "splurtz".
I don't know why. It just is.
Posted by: LittleA at August 8, 2006 04:15 PMOnomatopoeia!
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at August 8, 2006 04:19 PMYou may have a young Conehead on your hands there! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coneheads
Posted by: BillW at August 9, 2006 11:16 AMHeh--you know, I'd never thought of that, but you're right! Of course, our heads don't make that weird noise that the Coneheads' did--only the sound of colliding coconuts.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at August 9, 2006 11:43 AMJust keep on the lookout for that ring toss thing going on!
Posted by: BillW at August 9, 2006 04:04 PMI'm just glad the pointy-headed gene seems to have missed us...
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at August 9, 2006 04:14 PM