Bob's Corner
The Rods’ Rancho is a bit more lively these darn-hot days, as daughter Vicki with our grandgirls Natalie, 4, and Ella, 2, are here from Carlsbad in San Diego County for a visit. It took a few days, but our kitty-cat quintet finally is growing accustomed to the two smaller of our guests.
In fact, Crazy Charlie, the black-and-white whirlwind and escape artist, has taken to them with gusto. He thoroughly enjoys having them play with him. The girls like it too, especially having Charlie chase them up and down the hallway as they drag a length of string or green garden tape. They also invented a game using part of our living room décor so that our tuxedo cat bats furiously at pieces of colored reed they dangle and wiggle for him.
Only a few scratches have resulted. No, not the ones on the furniture; the ones on the kids from a rambunctious feline.
We took the California trio to Lake Selmac, and Natalie caught her first fish while Ella tried to fill the lake with rocks. Fortunately, Natalie is fond of bugs and such, so handling the worms was no big deal. She caught three fish, which all were returned to the water, as they were real small. However, catching three is nothing to sneeze about, although she kept asking about eating them. We explained; she accepted.
It’s a whole new lifestyle for us with small children about. I had forgotten (Jan had not) that raising and taking care of kids is a full-time endeavor. The fun never stops. Feeding them. Bathing them. Changing diapers (for Ella). Keeping their clothes clean. Dealing with tantrums. Dealing with sibling rivalry. Dressing them. Getting them out of the house and into the car or outside. Shoes on/shoes off. Quite interesting. Phew, makes me perspire just to think about it.
Like many youngsters, Natalie and Ella have two voice volumes: inaudible and Force 10. Little Ella calls herself “Aya” with a hard A. She wants to do everything herself, so we hear “Aya do it” many times daily. She has quite a vocabulary, but expresses gratitude by saying, “Kack you.” Upon arising in the morning, she’ll say, “Eat!” Right to the point.
Big sister Natalie takes care of Ella, although there are times when they squabble over toys or what-have-you. Ella’s response to being denied is, “I need it!” Sometimes Nat’s response is, “I had it first!” But she often helps her sister, even to comforting her when Ella demonstrates her 2-year-oldness when it’s bedtime. Screaming/yelling/anger: She does not want to sleep. Natalie speaks soothingly and lies with her. Pretty neat.
Our 11-year-old granddaughter, Kim, who lives in Cave Junction, deals well with both little visitors. She reads to them and plays games, which Natalie loves a lot. Of course, Ella observes and gets involved as best she can.
Like most of us when we were 4 or so, the play scenarios involve major circumstances with the caveat, “But you don’t know it.” Example: “See, you’re driving your car and it’s on fire, and one wheel fell off, and the police are chasing you, and there’s an earthquake, and it’s the end of the world. But you don’t know it.” I’ve always enjoyed stories like that.
But you don’t know it.
