A little oops, a sheet of ice, a leader and a sign, the week 38 Carr blog, is up up and away, like a beautiful balloon.
Girls
Girls and boys are different. I know that seems obvious to most, but sometime the differences are not always what you think they are! This week, I was reminded that I have girls, but also, that I have girls, comfortable enough to act like boys. My girls can burp! And not the little hand over the mouth, oops, kind of lady burp, but the ohh my G-d, you almost got through the alphabet, frat boy party burp. What always gets me is that in the moment, they both have this smile and the confidence on their faces, and right after, it turns to the little girls, oops, sorry about that smirk on their faces, with a little voice “Excuse me”. For now, I am cool with it as long as we are not out in public.
Cold As Ice
A bunch of weeks ago, I talked about the first time we had the girls on skates, and how they where interested, Jordyn more then Julia, in lessons. We put our names on a wait list and 3 weeks ago started the classes. I have been meaning to talk about skating each week since they started, and bring it up now because of the progress they have made in this short time. This week, Nathalie and I could not believe how great they are doing and it is very surprising, given the fact it almost did not happen for Julia. I take you back to the first day of the lessons, 3 weeks ago.
That day started with 20 minutes of a crying 7 year old! “But I changed, my mind, I don’t want to learn how to skate.” Julia says after she woke up, and the tears are real and they continue to flow. “Yesterday you said you wanted to, we paid and you need to try it” seemed to be a reasonable comment by Mommy, but she was not to have it. I then add, “Well Julia, you have to come anyway, Mommy has an appointment, so we have to all go. You don’t have to skate, but we ARE going! More crying the whole trip there, we park, make our way in, and find the check in, and something happens. After we had to borrow a helmet for Jordyn, Julia starts to warm up to the friendly teacher as they practice off the ice, going over how to fall, and how to get up. Julia tugs at my coat sleeve to ask a question.
“Daddy, I think I may try it next week.” Not sure what my tone was, but something short, firm but sympathetic, “Julia, you don’t understand, if you don’t go on today, there will be NO next week, because daddy is going to call the lady today and see if I can get the money back.” She agrees to try, and we borrow a second helmet and she is there stretching and learning, then on the ice herself. The best, was her attitude, after the first lesson, “Daddy I had fun, I liked it, but I will let you know later this week if I want to continue.” Are you kidding me? You are going to LET US know? On Wednesday, Julia confides to Nathalie, “I liked skating, and want to keep going Mommy.” So that is why the amazing progress they are both making is just that much more special.
Hey Mr. DJ
You might notice, that I am referencing a bunch of songs this week and this is because I am writing most of this while playing dinner music at a DJ gig. In a bit, I will be cranking out the hits, but for now, between the salad and the main course I am wrapping up this week with my thoughts about life and love with a song in my heart.
Follow The Leader
This week at work, we had our goodbye party for the boss I have had for the last 11 years. An event, designed to be a celebration of his accomplishments and that it was, but for me it was also I time for reflection, and the following is a summary of what I said to him on the DVD they presented to him.
“Many people will likely use this time to talk about all the amazing accomplishments you have achieved over your time here at Seneca, but because they are well known and talked about I would like to spend the time talking about the accomplishments I have made over this time under your leadership. When you started with Seneca, I was in my late 20’s, teaching part-time and newly married. In just over 11 years, I am now in my early 40’s, I have been hired full-time, I have become a Program Coordinator, I have had 2 children, and have bought my first home and whether you believe you have had a tremendous hand in this or not, the fact is, that without you in my life, I would not have grown as much as I have over the years. You have given me trust, knowledge and confidence, and I call on these skills every day. I have always known and felt that you had my back and you have challenged me to be a better at my job and for this I have to thank you so much.”
Signs
From an early age, our girls have been able to read. Well let me be more specific, they have been able to recognize words on signs through the window of the car, as we drive. I think it was one of the very early proud daddy moments, when Jordyn, just learning to talk, would say “pizza” or “donalds’s” when we passed the big orange letters or a golden arch on our commute. So to this day, we laughed when Jordyn remarked, “Used cars, why would people want used cars?” No question goes unanswered, so I reply “Well Jordyn, sometimes you can get a better deal on a car if it is a couple years old, so lots of people buy used cars”. Jordyn starts to laugh at my answer, and I am thinking it was not that funny, then she adds, “Hey, I guess we are used Carrs’”.
In closing
Tonight, while DJ’ing, I saw love on the dance floor and I smiled. The event, a church social, so the age range, and demographics closely resembled that of a wedding and I will have to admit, I was not sure what to expect when I watched a lady in the walker make her way across the dance floor, to her seat. She had to be in her 80’s or more and I didn’t see her move from her seat, until I played “Unchained Melody”, by the Righteous Brothers. She stood, and in the arms of her partner, made her way to the dance floor, and held each other the whole song, so tight as to say I love you and I have you. Love is nice to see, in so many ways.
Dancing my way through another week, thanks for reading and have a great and safe week!
Jim