We have had a pretty relaxed and laid back day, which was fine with me. I was ready for a lot less excitement around here. Alesia doesn't have to go to summer school any more, just study for her history test and do her online Algebra course.
I was helping her study history and little while ago and I asked her who Henry VIII was. "Um, he was king of England? He married a bunch of wives and killed them?!" was the answer.
I told her what I know about Henry. I used to be fascinated by him. I've always had a thing for guys with red hair.
She needs to do a lot more studying.
At 8 this morning I was outside watering my flowers and my next door neighbor and I had a nice chat. He is from Asia and he and his wife have 3 little boys. The oldest boy was with him. He is now 7. I went inside and brought them out a small bag of homegrown tomatoes and cucumbers. A minute later I am putting up the hose and a little voice behind me says "May I see your garden?" and it was the boy, Vincent. I showed him the gardens. It was so cute. He took such delight in things. I had to explain what an eggplant was and he looked at me with wonder. He got to pick a small cucumber and a tomato. I showed him the still flourishing strawberry plants and he was SO excited to find a ripe berry. I broke off mint leaves and basil leaves and let him smell them. At one point he saw a bug on a plant and he said excitedly "Look! Aim the hose over there and GET HIM!" Of course by then the excited little boy waving his arms around meant the bug had already left. He was SO cute. Just adorable.
I so wish I could adopt a 7 year old. However, 15 minutes with Vincent was probably enough to last me until I have grandchildren. Wow, they require a lot of energy and attention at that age.
The really cool thing is, his dad would say something to him in Chinese and he would answer in that language, then turn to me and speak flawless English. What an accomplishment, to raise a totally bilingual child.
Bruce and the kids and I went to the International Farmer's market this morning. I was looking for 2 or 3 things and I ended up coming home with many more things, which is always what happens. I discovered an entire area of the store I didn't know existed, much to my regret. It's a bakery. It has things like eclairs and napoleons and Mexican pastries. YUM. It's right next to the healthy fruits and vegetables. What a living illustration of IRONY. Yikes.
My children are not, alas, totally bilingual. At the Farmer's Market they have a nice section of Russian foods and there was a large bakery case of Russian cakes. I was chatting with the clerk in my terribly limited Russian and saying to the kids, in Russian, choose one! Use your Russian! Alesia could barely remember anything to say. Michael got really flustered. I felt like a total bee-yotch. Bad mommy. Ploha mama...
I have tomorrow pretty much planned out. There will be a lot of eating, and intervals of doing nothing but digesting. I may open a present or two. I plan to do no housework whatsoever. I am looking forward to it.
I will not watch fireworks. I am over that.
48. Almost half a century. YIKES.
