Snapshots of Uno

Born for the Stage

We went to a fish fry / barbecue yesterday at the home of FIL's good friend Larry (who, apropos of nothing, speaks with an impossibly thick accent and a mumble). Larry has a big above-ground pool that the girls swam in last summer when we visited, but this year our bathing suits are in storage -- and besides, it was an uncharacteristically cool day.

Uno and Dos were devastated -- nay, heart broken! -- that we wouldn't let them swim. Never mind that Larry also has a huge yard for running around in. Never mind that he has a killer swing set, much better than the rusty, rickety thing we left behind at our old house. Never mind that he has a basketball hoop. Never mind that there were about 15 other children present whom Uno could have rallied for the game or adventure of her choosing.

No, all she and Dos could think about was swimming. "Mom, please? Let's just go get our suits out of storage. Or I could swim in my regular clothes. Please? Huh? Or sometimes people swim in just their underpants; could we do that? Or what if you quick drive to Walmart and get us new swimming suits? Or--"

No. The first answer was no. The final answer was no. No, no, no.

Uno looked at me, horrified. "I don't even know who you are anymore!" she squealed, and then turned and ran away covering her face with her hands.

All this drama and puberty still to come! Wheeee!


Heart of Gold

Uno made a new friend at school last week (though she can't remember the girl's name, lol). She made a big show of their parting when I picked her up on Thursday: She hugged the girl, held her hands and said something I couldn't hear, then hugged her again before bidding a final goodbye.

As she walked out to the car she said, "Mom, that friend has a disease. Sometimes she gets too much sugar and it makes her act funny or sometimes she doesn't have enough sugar and then she might get shaky and you have to tell a teacher or the playground lady. She has to try to keep it right in between, but sometimes it's hard for her."

"That's called diabetes," I said. "It can be a tricky thing, especially for kids."

"Yeah, that's what she said. She has a diabeety."

DH came with me to pick her up the next day. "Dad!" Uno said first thing. "My friend has a diabeety! Can you get to work on a cure for that? I need to bring it to her on Monday."

Yeah, Doc, could you get right on that? :-)


~RCH~