Random Notes from the Sandwich Life
1. Pleasures: sitting in the front yard reading and listening to two eight year old boys (Owen and a friend) sitting on their bikes in the alley admiring the flowers. I looked up when one of them seemed interested in cutting one but then they stood there for quite a while asking me all the names of them. Of course they thought peony and allium both sounded pretty funny (pee and aliens). I mean they're sweet but they ARE eight year old boys. But really, what could be better than a couple of little boys admiring flowers?
2. In other Owen sweetness (I'm doing this to remind myself not to kill the conniving manipulative persistent little beast) the other night he was curled up with me and he said wistfully, "I wish I had some special fairy dust that I could sprinkle where Grandma and Grandpa are buried and they'd come back just like they were for a little while." And the other day I was in the other room and I could hear the boys on the computer in the kitchen and I don't know what they were doing but all of a sudden I heard Owen sigh and say, "I wish Grandpa was here." I think that touches me particularly because let's face it---the last year or two of my father's life were not easy ones and sometimes I wonder if they will remember him before the Alzheimer's really took over....but the other day Owen looked at me and said, "remember how Grandpa used to always give us quarters?" I told him I did and then added, "and one time I got a whole DOLLAR and Leo only got a quarter!" I reminded him that he'd been special to Grandpa because his middle name was Grandpa's name and he was the second son, just like Grandpa was. He nodded and smiled---might have been a bit a smugness in there but it was still damned sweet.
3. Ernie gets to talk to the inimitable Ray Wylie Hubbard this morning as we're writing something for Smile Politely about the upcoming show at the Rosebowl. He's a tad nervous but he's been doing a lot of great Ray Wylie Hubbard impressions and I imagine they will only get better after their conversation.
4. This morning is busy so that's all I've got....but here's something else from Peony Watch 2010....
5. Oh, and I encourage everyone to give at least a bit to the flood recovery efforts in Nashville. I have a fondness for Nashville as you know so maybe that's why it tugs at my heart so...but it does. Oh, and Norm's River Roadhouse----where I never got even though I made plans umpteen times.....RIP.....