Jenna has been counting down the days. Today she left home a first grader and came home a second grader!
SPEAKING OF SCHOOL, Jenna was blessed to have Vicki Rippy for her teacher this year. It was a great year and Mrs. Rippy made each child a wonderful "Memory Book." There were over 20 pictures of Jenna in various activities throughout the year. We will treasure it! (By the way, Jenna grew 0.5 inches and gained 10 lbs.)
CONGRATULATIONS TO BETH! Beth Keith, my cousin, graduated tonight. I didn't get to go to the graduation but went to the party at their house around 9:00. She is very happy is thinking about college in the fall. She is the last of Lynn and Alice's kids to graduate. I envy them around 8:00 every night. At least bedtime won't have to be enforced as strictly for about 11 weeks.
AIRPLANES AND KIDS. There is something fascinating about airplanes to children. I can't blame them, they fascinate me. Actually, anything that flies captures my imagination. I remember working in the tobacco patch with Will Ed Osborne one day when the Goodyear blimp flew over. For no really good reason we stopped what we were doing, hopped in the truck and chased it as far as Milldale. It doesn't matter how slow those things go. Those of us in a ground bound vehicle simply couldn't keep up because we didn't keep the same course. I have digressed.
One of the most memorable moments of this year's soccer season (which ends tomorrow) was when all the kids on Ben's team stopped in the middle of the game and looked up. The other team scored. Then the coach was heard to say, "Yeah, I knew that plane would get us."
Last night we had a storm to blow through. The thunder had Ben pretty scared and he got up several times seeking comfort from me before finally drifting off to sleep. The last time he was up a plane happen to fly over while we were talking about the thunder. When he heard it his whole expression changed and he said, "I heard an airplane!" Seizing the moment I answered, "Yes, and if that pilot isn't worried about flying in the middle of all that thunder you shouldn't be worried about going to sleep here on the ground." At that he scampered off to the Land of Nod.
PERMISSION TO DRIVE. I mentioned back on April 25 that the doctor had given Aunt Mar clearance to drive. What I failed to report was that the home health people vetoed that the next day. This week she was given the all clear from the home health nurse. She drove to church Wednesday night and was very happy to be able to keep her own hair appointment this week.
BACKING UP. Ben is a good driver. He has plenty of practice from driving the Gator. Jenna has preferred for him to drive for a long time and Nate, of course, can't drive at all. One habit Ben has picked up from me is backing into a parking spot. When it is parked at our house the Gator is stored in the smoke house shed. It is so funny to watch Ben park. What makes me chuckle is that he'll give himself plenty of room to turn around and back up--something like 75 feet (yes, I stepped it off). I've tried to get him to drive closer to the shed before turning it around but he just gets mad at me. He's like that with the computer mouse too. He holds it the wrong way and I can't break him of that either. I guess all that stuff will work itself out over time.
DRIBBLE THAT BALL. This soccer story is about our one kid who isn't playing soccer. In soccer the term "dribbling" refers to tapping the ball with your feet to move it down the field (as opposed to kicking it several feet out in front of you and possibly losing possession of it). I was watching Nate play with a soccer ball out in the yard this afternoon and that boy was pretty much dribbling the ball wherever he wanted to go. It got away from him occasionally but he had control of it for the most part. He was doing better than some of Ben's teammates. Especially with a big brother trying to kick it away from him every so often. I was impressed.
Joe
