The
Jordan Harold Update
August 1996
801 “D” Street #25, Davis California-95616-
What did my son learn (discover?) today? That nutshells are grand for
scooping water, sand, and woodchips. That spiders, when they run, have
amazing shadows. That sometimes little people see butterflies before
big people do. I am very proud that he is in my life.
I’m sitting here, at Louis’ desk, in Davis California, doing
my best to live through a summer heat wave that is doing it’s best
to try and bake, broil, and fry me. Unfortunately, my best now has a
lot to do with running the AC far too much and polishing off almost
a whole pint of Ben & Jerry’s White Russian ice cream. It was
fun while it lasted but “UGH” after.
To deal with the heat (we’re talkin’ over 100 as highs for
more than a month, no break in sight) we take advantage of Jordan’s
early rising and are out of the house most mornings between eight and
nine. An errand run followed by playground time (complete with fountains
to play in thankfully) fills out our mornings and we try to escape the
climbing sun by twelve at the latest.
Jordan’s life gets easier and harder now that he is speaking so
well. Mostly easier with big people-he can tell them what he needs or
wants or sees and there is a fair chance they’ll help him out or
at least understand. Sometimes though it is harder for him at the playground
when he trys his words with littler people who really don’t much
care if someone uses “please”. So many things to figure out
in so many varied situations. It amazes me how we all manage to get
along as well as we do...By the by, Jordan’s first two sentences
were-”I did it!” and “I got it!”
Jordan and I just returned from a trip cross country (Thank You Aunt
Laurie!!) to be at Gramma and Granpa Dinehart’s 50th wedding anniversary.
A great time was had by all. The whole clan made it so Jordan was able
to, at least for that one day, see all his relations from that side
of the family. I saw numerous faces that used to be so familiar to me-all
stretched out now and grown up with lives and children of their own
that I know nothing about. Jordan too will know my experience of far
flung family.
That child is an amazing traveler! (knock-wood) He slept mostly through
our flight eastward. Then he showed everyone how much better he is with
car rides-during more driving from here to there, back again, then off
to somewhere else, than he does in several months back in Davis town.
We then trekked down, again by car (thanks to Beth & Kevin and Alexander
frogboy), to NYC to visit with other friends and family too long in
the missing already. The return air ride was an even bigger surprise
to me. I was dreading it and there was our boy, perfect (knock-wood).
We had a few new toys and a couple of real chapter books* to assist
us. We played a couple of hours and read ‘till dinner came, then
he told me he was sleepy and he slept the last three hours of the trip;
he woke up for awhile to say “hi” to his Daddy though. Jordan
and I are almost recovered from jetlag now, thank you.
Still, as always, with all the good and easy come the harder and rougher
things about growing up. Jordan doesn’t understand why he can’t
get whatever it is he asks for now that he has mastered the words. It
is not as if he is asking for anything terrible, it is most often the
simple-but oh so frustrating-fact that there is a time and place for
everything and there is no bending some rules (no matter how cute one
is). We work with him and he works with us. We try to hold our tempers
and remind ourselves he is but a small person still so new to this world;
he, in turn, trys to figure out these give and take and patience things.
We are nearing a second birthday now, grand plans in the making. We
hope to see many of our friends and relations there but understand the
time and distance involved in such things. So we’ll keep the Updates
and photos coming and hope that will keep everyone entertained and informed.
I hope this note finds you all well-drop a letter in return, if you
can, and let us know what your “Update” is.
*we are reading Pooh and Alice and Moomins now.
