The Jordan Harold Update
Autumn 1996
801 “D” Street Apartment # 21, Davis California -95616-

To the sound of feet crunching merrily through the autumn leaves, I think to myself what a great season this one has been.

Jordan turned two last month with a wonderful birthday party out in the park with friends and family all gathered round to say “yeah”! We had a lovely sunny day, the carousel to ride, and much fun to remember in the years to come.

Our thanks to all those who remembered Jordan on his birthday. You all sent such good thoughts, wonderful wishes, notes, cards, and gifts. Sadly the birthday gift list is missing just now so I’ll get around to thanking you all individually as soon as it resurfaces.

This Halloween was talked about for weeks before it came and is still a hot topic with Jordan. “Halloween is coming to our house!!!”, was the cry. Jordan was Robin Hood and I played his Sherwood Forest. Louis came as a hunchback hag. We had three parties to go to and barely enough time for that. We missed the trick or treat thing all together; maybe next year we’ll make the rounds.

Speaking of next year, Louis has news on the job front. He will be working for a year as a clerk to the Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court! So off to Anchorage we go-selling all we can of our stuff, storing a bit, and UPSing the bare necessities. We’re all very excited; it will be an adventure to be sure. Where we will head after the year is out is still unknown. Portland, Seattle, San Fransico are all in the running-alot depends on where there is work to be had-any of the three would make us happy.

This summer saw more firsts for Jordan. We took a train down the coast to Cambria town and introduced him to the ocean. We went to the circus with Ellen, and Gramma Rona! It was Rona’s first time to the circus as well. The last plane flight we took was Jordan’s first in his own seat (he turned two and the airlines made him a full person in their world). I think the extra space was a relief to all three of us and Jordan seemed proud of his new standing...sitting?...anyhow...

He can recite his version of “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and a few other rhymes (beware, he may call you on the phone and tell you all about this himself). He can count from one to ten but seems to forget seven. He knows his colors and where things are around town. Sometimes he even remembers things on the shopping list that I forget! To overcome a fear of the dark, I taught him a set of things that will always keep him company in the dark: Lady Moon, The Company of Stars, and The Night Wind. When he gets scared of the dark, he talks about these three friends.

Jordan still loves stories! We tell stories from books, made up on the spot, from his life and ours, and traditional tales. He tells me stories that he makes up sometimes (I’m trying to keep a record of them for later). His art has grown too. From just crayons to paints, pencils and pens now. He also does collage and works with play-dough. He was given a drum for his birthday and so his musical fun continues to expand as well.

I continue to try to keep my silly adult feet swinging to the pace of his child world and thank him often for sharing all he does with me. His words, as he chatters on with me, are often strange and beautiful and his imagination soars (books, blocks, and costumes are making a large part of play these days). He works on the puzzle that is this civilzation he lives in. We all do our best to understand each other. That’s not an easy thing to do, many rough spots and hard days, but it is worth it and we are all doing fine.