To: Beers at the Nifty
From: John Berry
My brother Hugh and I are the ‘Sweeties’, a term of affection our mother coined.
While I’d prefer something more action oriented – like the ‘Not so Sweet Brotherhood’ – it’s OK.
It’s our mother, you know.
Through some weird school calendar stuff, we’re off this week from pre-school; our older brother’s 2nd grade still in, so mommy ‘suggested’ a week with Queenie and PA.
While initially reluctant, once she re-named it ‘Our Vacation’, we were way in! She used to be a marketer, you know.
Our parents brought us Thursday, went home on Sunday. The weekend’s highlight: Queenie’s St. Patrick’s Day dinner, a real extravaganza.
That’s what PA called it; but he’d had a few Guinnesses so he could have been talking about a regular vaganza. Our mom returned on Thursday, we departed Friday.
The week tons of fun: Beach, Pool, the Castle (King and Prince playground with ice cream!), Frosty’s – more ice cream! – playgrounds, building with blocks. Some great mini-structures!
Did I mention ice cream?
A highlight: The lighthouse!
129 steps. Hugh and I climbed everyone!
The view from the top amazing. But PA screwed up the selfie – we forgave him.
I hate to admit this, but the week educational. For us and Queenie and PA.
What did we learn?
Energy Rules!
PA was amazed that we could go full 360, until he read us books and we went to sleep. Hugh was asleep in 10 seconds, but that’s to be expected – he’s a year younger that me.
We were amazed Queenie and PA could keep up with us; they are old, you know. As I write this, though, I’m sure they’re dozing off in their chairs after saying “It’s so quiet!”
Sharing is caring.
People are amazed at how well Hugh and I play together, our ‘cooperation’. We had the occasional ‘dispute’, just to keep Queenie and PA from getting too comfortable. Brotherhood’s a lot easier without all that fighting stuff. But every now and then, you just gotta throw down…
We were amazed at their cooperation, too. Dividing up beach stuff to carry; Queenie cooking, PA doing the dishes, emptying the dishwasher; all that marital stuff.
Trusting.
When PA held the door for us, we just walked through without putting our hand out – unlike most adults. Very trusting – at least that’s what he told Queenie. And we trusted we really needed to wear our life vest at the pool, that whatever we were getting in the car for, was worth it.
That’s a great thing about kids: They really do trust adults. Until adults screw it up.
Queenie and PA trusted we would stop watching a show and play with our toys when asked, that we could take a shower by ourselves. That we were responsible.
And they seemed like they trusted each other. As far as I could tell, anyway.
Babies Are Cool
Friends visited with their grandson Beck – not the ‘Sea Change’ guy, but cool anyway. Our brother hogged him until leaving, then he was mine. We played a lot; I taught him what I learned from PA – it’s the Atlantic Ocean at Queenie’s Beach and even 4 blocks away. Queenie and PA liked him too.
We love you!
They said that a lot, we really believed it. They liked it when we said it back.
Knowing we were with people who loved us, might have been the best part of our vacation.
Some other stuff
I’m sure there’s stuff I’ve missed, but it’s bedtime, Hugh’s already asleep, so this is a wrap.
Good night.
John
ENHANCE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS POST, PAIR WITH THE FOLLOWING ‘AGING HIPSTER MUSIC’:
Death Cab for Cutie’s new album out in early May; their new single ‘Riptides’ now out and is good.
A real sweetie !