Mother-in-law and mother had their birthdays about 10 days apart this year. Well, they have for the last 80 years, but we just noticed it this year.

We worked on their respective homes, doing some cleaning and making a few repairs, then went to a concert at the park, by an Irish folk group calling itself 'Cherish the Ladies.' It's one of the few all female Irish groups. If anyone gets the opportunity to hear them, I highly recommend them. even if you're not Irish.

I spent some quality time with my 2 yo neice, and taught her to say "hendiadys" and "preposition." Both of which should come in handy when she wants to impress her preschool teacher some day. Then we played in the hose. This is the first time I have splashed around barefoot in a puddle in a very long time, and, I had forgotten just how much fun it is to splash in a puddle. Abby showed her uncle Gene how to jump like a frog, and I finally got the hang of it. We both managed to get soaked, but I probably dried out sooner, not having a diaper absorbing the water.

It occurred to me that if anyone had seen me out there by myself having all that fun, they would have probably called the authorities to have me checked for sanity. But since I was carrying on with a two-year old, nobody thought anything of it.

My best advice is: spend some time hanging out with little kids. It will give you a better perspective on life.

gene

-- gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), July 08, 2001

Answers

Gene, Abby will remember this day for the rest of her life. I had an uncle who took me to the park and pushed my swing for as long as I wanted to swing. I never forgot that. This was a sweet post.

-- helen (swing@me.higher), July 08, 2001.

Well, wet pants are better than an epistemology any day.

-- gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), July 08, 2001.

Gene, got pictures? J

Thanks for sharing this sweet story. If more people would remember how to play, love and give as a child does, the world would be a much better place!

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), July 09, 2001.

Sorry, no pictures. But I may get some from my sister-in-law who tried to capture our frog performance. If I can post them, just remember I'm the one without the hair.

-- gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), July 09, 2001.

Gene. . .Yep! Without a doubt, playing in the sprinkler with my three and a half year old grandson was the highlight of my recent trip back. What started out as a garden watering job turned into one of the best times I've ever had. . .

The memory of the of loving mischievousness that crept into his eyes, and his gleeful cackles of laughter as he chased me all over the backyard, hose in hand shouting "Get Nannie!" won't fade. . .

Sure did my heart good, and I'm not talking about the 'cardiac workout' he gave me, either . . .

-- Brooke (Happiness@Hill.top), July 09, 2001.

Gene, is that another author I see climbing out of the closet> :-)

Children do warm the heart. And stories about them do, too. Thanks for this one.

Brooke, I can just see it in my minds eye - hope you didn't get so wet you shrank ;-)

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), July 13, 2001.