THROUGH A CHILD'S EYES

Today I passed by the dead skunk again, for the second day in a row, which means he's been there for three days. Doesn't smell anymore, but whose job is it to remove that skunk? Which by the way, was in the middle of the road.

Last night, when Nathan arrived, there was a package of air planes and what he calls, a "beetle". That is, a little car that actually is a green taxi, with a white top. Nate has a fetish for beetles since his uncle drove over one night in a Volkswagon Beetle, a fire-engine, bright, red one. As much as he loves cars, its airplanes right now. He's got it down, sound and all, which his grandfather, John, is taking all the credit for. Of course, they are two little boys, and speak the same language of all men, cars, sports and grandma.

He gets it, when we started to pray around the dinner table, his little hands were folded all by himself. I didn't even have to ask him to do it. He was attentive and we were surprised when he said "Our father" that was it. He sees and hears everything. Grampy slipped only once last night and had to be corrected by his daughter-in-law, Angie. Oh, it was just a little one, but just the same.

Nathan loves to eat, don't kid anyone, at least at our house, and he's got it down. Last night it was meatloaf, potatoes and peas. We usually wait for dessert, then I'll ask if anyone wants coffee? He perked up all at once, and said "yes." Oh, the little darling! Everyone knows you don't give children coffee. Even decaf. At grandma's though, it is an exception. So, once the coffee was made, everyone got theirs, and then Angie added her milk, daddy didn't take any, and when I added Nate's he objected. John and I drink ours black, maybe he will too, but as for last night he got chocolate milk with a touch of "make believe cream."
I told him he had to sip it. I wish you could have seen how happy he was to be grown-up and included with the adults sipping "coffee?" Age doesn't matter, feeling "special" does.

Strawberry cheesecake ice cream with cream was for dessert. We usually give Nathan Strawberry Yogurt with light cream and grampy forgot to get some, so, off to the store.

Getting together is good for catching up with every one's events and Angie shared, on the computer, which is part of the entertainment room we eat in, all the pictures of the race held on Sunday, Oct. 5, in our neighboring town of Sturbridge. So, while we observed those, others were glued to the TV watching the debate. And, Nate, he was flying his airplanes.

If you are unfamiliar with Sturbridge, it is the town where "Old Sturbridge Village" is located, in Worcester County. A lovely little town with quaint shoppes and a vital community of educated folk, growing with lots of little children. (The event she was speaking of, took place on the Common, once again). Many are scheduled this month, and coincide with the Halloween attraction now being viewed from the famous lawn of a renown restaurant which has been there since around 1775. "The Public House," is located directly across the street.

She tells me over 200 runners were involved in the race of 5 kilometers, on a raw, cold, and wet, (around 40 degrees), morning to raise money for the Rehabilitative Resources, Inc. Angie finished! Over 3.1 mi. along with her two sisters, Julie and Jean, who incredibly gave birth about a month ago. Following this event, which included, men, women and some children to a tune of a $17. donation each, a Family Fun Day was held, which featured a Craft Show, and food.

A massage set-up was available to treat runners. Nathan observed his aunt Jean, receiving her well-deserved one, to which he responded to his mom, "she is getting her diaper changed." Then, he called out to his Aunt Jean, "don't fall off the table."

It is easy to see how this little boy has become the "joy" in our lives. We laughed so much...And, when it was time to go home, little Nathan wanted to scream, again. Grandma quickly reminded him of his surprise. And, there we sat, while the folks gathered his things, counting little chocolate bits, one by one into the zip-lock bag, one for mommy, daddy, grampy, grandma, Nathan and the rest for tomorrow. Kisses, hugs and off they went, Nathan noticing everything on the way. Watching me every minute as he usually does from his car seat, until I was out of sight.

He was going home to tell Snoopy brown, (a little stuffed dog), all about what he saw with his own eyes in his own way, as he does every night at bedtime.