L got a new pet — a frog of some sort.
We were all happy and excited for her, eager to see the new beast.
She’s been dreaming about this for some time, and she finally got it today.
If, of course, you can see the little stinker.
New Pet
the girl
Jobs
My first real job was as a lifeguard at the pool in my high school. During the evenings, from 6:30 to 8:30, it was open for public swimming, and those hours were extended in the summer to include morning and afternoon swimming. Those hours on the lifeguard stand seemed endless, making the evening shift seem more than double its actual time. At times, I had to tell myself, to force myself, not to look at the clock, to resist the urge for as long as possible because I knew that, despite being sure fifteen or twenty minutes had passed, I knew I would look up and see that only five minutes had dragged by. After everyone had left, I had to clean the pool deck, clean the bathrooms, and once every few days vacuum the pool.
“Being a lifeguard is not as glamorous as it seems,” my boss (who was also my swim coach) warned us when we all began taking the requisite courses to become certified. “Being a lifeguard is, in reality, nothing more than being a glorified janitor.” He’d forgotten to mention the utter boredom.
Many teens start their working lives in fast food, and so the second job I got was at a Wendy’s franchise one summer. Tired of being a glorified janitor, I applied for the job on the advice of a friend who also worked there. It was a little better than being a lifeguard: there was at least some variety. One day I might be working on the grill; the next day I might be serving up fries. I never got to work the register, though, because I quit after a month: the manager was scheduling me to work so little that I was sure I could find a better way to spend my time — at least looking for a job with more hours.
One summer in high school, I worked mornings with a man who did landscaping. It was tiring work, and it was frustrating as well: he often didn’t explain things terribly well and then fussed at me when I didn’t do things the way he’d intended.
Today, E and I dropped off L at a local ice cream franchise for her to apply for her first job. Her friend S applied for and got a job there, and she was to start her first shift just after L’s interview.
“I’d have to work the register,” she explained on the way there, “because I can’t use any of the equipment. S said she can’t even touch the microwave.”
“How old do you have to be for that?” I asked.
“Sixteen.” So by the time she’s allowed to make milkshakes for people rather than just taking orders for them, she’ll also be old enough to drive herself to work. And that’s all in just two short years.
Going through some photos while taking an afternoon coffee today, I noticed some pictures I hadn’t remembered: the kids, out with Babcia and K during their Polska 2015 visit. The children are both vastly different in these images than they are now, with E currently just about the same age as L in the image. And the same old thoughts and realizations came back yet again…
Jacksonville — Vacation Day
Jacksonville: The Tournament
It was just a one-day tournament today, and it was a tough one for the girls: the heat combined with the wind off the ocean and its effect on the ball teamed up against them, making the girls feel it was one team against three.
It was tough, but I think, as I always suggest, that losing can be as important as winning — if it builds character.
Jacksonville Arrival
K and the kids headed to Jacksonville today for a beach volleyball tournament in which L will be playing tomorrow. They arrived, checked in, and headed straight to the beach.
Then had ice cream for dinner. Sounds like vacation…
Confirmation
The Ball
L’s school had the eighth-grade ball this evening.
Treasures
I’m not sure how it happened, but everyone — L, E, and K — took turns going through Nana’s old jewelry. It’s been stowed away in Papa’s room since they moved in two years ago, and I think it’s only now that they’ve gone through it.
Sports Banquet
The Girl gets some recognition: “This person almost won [the most improved] award in tryouts.”
Nine
Today, the Boy turned nine. It’s his last year in single digits, and we’re all wondering how we got to this point so quickly. That’s the same old story every birthday, though.
This year, most of the gifts from us are soccer-based: a new ball and new nets. He and the Girl tried them out after dinner.
Previous Years
Happy Mess Day
Second Time Around
Third Party
Celebration Day
Birthday
Fifth Birthday Party
Sports and Ice Cream
Seventh Birthday
Tournament Weekend
Both the kids had tournaments this weekend. The Girl’s tournament was outside Atlanta, and it was her first time in competitive sand volleyball.
“How’d it go?” I asked.
“I got sand in my mouth,” was the first impression.
The Boy’s tournament was local. They made it to the semifinals then lost.
“We should have won” was the sentiment. How to get him to accept “win some, lose some” and still have the fire in the belly?
Sunny Sunday
It rained all day yesterday, and that was probably for the best: we all stayed home and took care of K, who has been sick for several days now. Today, though, it was finally clear and sunny, so we went for a little walk while K took a nap.
We were likely trespassing, but since there’s no sign posted and no one has lived on the property in ages…
And these days, what I get when I tell the kids, “Come here — I want to take a picture” produces visual representations of the nature of their relationship.
Papa’s 80th Birthday Party
Return to Dupont
“You guys from out of town?” the cyclist asked coming to a slow stop as he navigated the steep downhill that we were climbing.
“Not really — we’re from Greenville.” I figured being only 50 miles away doesn’t exactly make us tourists.
“Well, most people around here go the opposite way on this loop and go down this hill,” he said, I suppose trying to be helpful, but it came across to me as a little — I don’t know, annoying somehow.
“But what about those of us who enjoy hard climbs?” I wanted to say, but thinking I might be only speaking for myself, I said nothing.
“Yes, it seems like it would be more fun,” K agreed.
Our interlocutor headed off down the hill, and added, as if he’d read my annoyance and wanted to soothe it and simultaneously aggravate it, “Of course, it’s your choice.”
Just before December, we went to Dupont forest for some cycling. It wasn’t exactly what we’d planned. But since then, the Boy has asked us several times when we’re heading back. Today, we finally made it.
And afterward, there was mulch to spread and bikes to wash.
Playing with the Hose
The Day After Easter
A bit of relaxation in the morning.
A little exploration in the afternoon.
A little soccer in the evening.
Regionals 2021 Day 2
The Girl’s team today had a rough time of it. During their first game, they were up one set 11-4, but they just couldn’t put it away. In the second game, they were up 24-19 and ended up losing it 26-28. That means they had four set points and couldn’t convert. That frustrated L to no end. They won the final game in straight sets, but it was by far the weakest team we’d seen in a long time. Still, a win is a win.
In the break between game one and two, I walked down the street to see where Papa’s parents used to live. I know Papa lived in a couple of houses in the area growing up, but the only house I have any connection to — any memory of — is the small now-yellow house on Izard Street.
Down the street stands an abandoned building that I seem to remember as a store that my cousins and I used to visit to buy a Three Muskateers candy bar and a Mountain Dew.
Closing Dinner
When K closes on a house, we splurge a little and have a special dinner. Tonight, it was crab cakes and crab legs.
The best thing about crab legs (other than the taste) — they’re fun to eat as well.
Visiting Coach
The girls went to watch their coach’s other team play — a college men’s team.
“They jump so high!” was the common comment. “And the net is higher!”
At one point, they were discussing the other team with coach M. “I liked number 10,” one girl said.
“Really?” coach asked incredulously. “He was terrible.”
“I’m talking about looks, coach,” she clarified.
“I was not part of the conversation,” the Girl clarified when I related it to K.
(I also didn’t take the pictures…)
Games
The Boy had two soccer games today. His team won them both, but the second game was a real bruiser. The kids on the other team were much more aggressive than any other kids we’ve encountered. Fouls don’t occur in eight-year-old soccer, but these kids fouled. They pushed and shoved, getting very physical in almost all aspects of the game. Still, our boys managed to pull out a 3-1 win.
E didn’t play for most of the game, though. He went in for about the last three minutes of the second half. My understanding was that the coach let the bench decide: leave the kids in who were doing well or get subbed in. They decided to let the kids who were already doing so well continue doing so.
The Girl is with K outside of Atlanta for a volleyball tournament. Their team won the first two matches they played but lost the final match. They took one set, though, so that’s always some little bit of compensation.
Finally, the Boy played a little guitar tonight. He’s decided it’s time to get serious about his playing, so I printed him out a simple chord chart, and off we went.