Pretty Good
Since Azul is consistently with me, it may come as no surprise that he has attended his fair share of funerals. So far this year he has gone to four funerals with me and I have tried to prep him before each one and we talk about whether or not it is an open casket or an urn we will be seeing on the altar. And most importantly, we talk about funeral behavior. At his Great-grandma’s services he was feeling a little antsy between the Rosary and the Mass and turned to me and asked in a whispered voice, “Why didn’t you get pretty?” I looked down at my dress and replied, “I thought I did.” That’s when he touched his new shirt and blazer and very proudly said, “Not like me!” Both of us had to giggle at that one, even if we were in church.
Secret Code
I have always felt extremely lucky to still have my Grandmother around and much more for Azul to have a Great-grandma. They had very unique interactions that belong to only them, and I am glad he was able to see her on a weekly basis, if not more for the first five years of his life. A few weeks ago Azul was playing “Costco” and setting up his samples, of course they were in the form of different sized pieces of yarn, and he was getting his work day started. They were all delicately set up on the coffee table in the living room right next to Great-grandma’s chair. Azul announced, “Turkey Beef, get your Turkey Beef samples.” There was no reply from Great-grandma, either she couldn’t hear or didn’t want to play so she was ignoring the sample person, like we all do a one time or another. So, Azul not giving up, walked up to her and asked, “Are you a vegetarian, because I have Turkey Beef samples?” To Great-grandma’s surprise at the question, she replied “Oh, no, I’m Catholic!” They both seemed satisfied without really understanding each other.
I am going to miss that.
Crucita Rose Gonzales – December 4, 1921 to October 2, 2013
Lesson in Love
On the way to school this morning, I received some disturbing news. Apparently Azul’s new preschool is a tiny Melrose Place and Azul is right in the middle of it. Azul told me he has a girlfriend and my immediate reaction in my head was, who is this hussy, but what I said very calmly was, “Oh, a girlfriend, what is her name?” He answered, “Marisa.” I wanted to know more, asking, “Does anyone else have a girlfriend?” This is when the conversation got going and Azul was ready to start talking, a.k.a. gossiping. “Owen and Grace are crazy,” he said. I probe deeper, “Crazy, why?” Azul explained, “They hug all the time! And they are always with each other!” I ask, “Do you and Marisa hug all the time.” He replied, “No, not all the time, sometimes.” I giggled and asked, “Is that why she’s your girlfriend?” while thinking, bitch — step off! Very nonchalantly he said, “No, it’s because I like her.” Still in an even toned voice I said, “Oh, you like her.” There was a brief pause and then, “But, you’re still my loving Mommy.” I smiled and thought, that’s right! But said, “Yes, my love, have a good day at school.”
Carmelina Hart 