This was a good week because we spent a lot of time together (thanks to school vacation).
On Tuesday, we had 2013’s Three Musketeers Adventure # 1 (see other blog). On Thursday I picked you up in the morning and brought you to Portsmouth.
First we hung out at the office. I had a few more things to finish up, so I set you up across from me at my desk. We faced each other, me at my keyboard… you drawing on fresh sheets of white paper. We’ve done this many times over the years since you were a little kid. Just you and me, eye to eye, in very close proximity, talking about ordinary things. always joking around.
You were busy working on a new project. When you came into my office you had looked at my door where I put drawings from my grandkids and said:
this picture is old. I’ll make a new one.
You sounded embarrassed about the quality and evidently felt it was time to right this wrong and step up your game. This is what you made:
I asked you to hang it up on my door, then requested a signature and date on the new masterpiece. I keep a lot of my grandchildren’s artwork and like to know when it was made. Thanks for the colorful, funny and creative addition.
When you were little and visited the office, we had a routine. I’d put my office paraphenalia on the floor… the fish weathervane that comes apart… the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour bus…the big brass school bell… the Japanese gong… and the blow-up plastic balls. We’d crawl around and fool around for hours. I’d pick you up and put you on my black chair to see the boats going by and the bridge moving up and down.
So yesterday you said:
I like to play with your balls.
Then, looking at me with the knowing eyes of a young man who will very soon be 10 years old you said:
Oh, that doesn’t sound right!
That was a funny moment, a moment we wouldn’t have had when you were younger!
Lunch time was fast approaching – “Do you want Googies?” knowing full well it’s one of your favorite lunch spots. We found out what Grammy wanted, put on our coats and walked over. Googies’s was busy; we waited in line a long time to get your favorite: a small sub with provolone cheese, turkey and mayo.
They didn’t have milk, so I let you get a Hawaiian Punch, a drink that isn’t great for you, but tastes darn good. I remember drinking that as a kid myself… their advertising slogan was “You want a Hawaiian punch?” The character always held the drink in his hand, and the person he was talking to thought he was referring to the drink… but was always surprised receiving a punch in the face instead. Ah, the good old days of political incorrectness…
On the way back we stopped in at a new cupcake shop called Random Acts of Sweetness. You eyed a peanut butter delight and I was fond of a dark chocolate with buttermilk frosting.
We weren’t eating super healthy today, but what the heck, life is too short to never, ever make exceptions.
The three of us ate lunch in Grammy’s office. You are not a fan of picture taking anymore, you must get that from your Mom:
After lunch, we left again, walking on Daniel Street. On the way by the Post Office I explained how this particular building stood out (u-g-l-y) from the other wonderful historic period architecture and should have never been built. It was a product of the 1960’s when everything old was being torn down. Fortunately, at least in Portsmouth, people battled back and preserved the past.
In Market Square I peeked inside the Athaneum; the door was unlocked. An Athaneum is a place filled with historic artifacts, books and knowledge. Inside, I showed you some of the items, the sweeping ceiling, the carved miniature sailing ship hulls and the carved wooden figurehead of a woman that used to be on a sailing ship’s “bow,” facing the sea.
We walked along Congress Street for a bit, then turned around and walked by the Old North Church – I pointed to the sign indicating famous people who had visited there. “Are any of these familiar?” i asked. You said:
George Washington!
“Have you heard of Daniel Webster?” – you hadn’t, so I explained who he was.
I stopped beside the historic Warner house, pointing to a metal wire that went from the ground to a lightning rod on the roof of the brick building. “Do you know what that is?” You knew something about it and we discussed how lightning hits the rod and travels to the ground instead of catching the building on fire. “Guess who installed that on this building… it was Benjamin Franklin.” The same guy who “discovered” electricity with his kite and key. The patriot who helped shape America. Old Ben would visit Portsmouth from time to time in his travels.
Back at Harbour Place we jumped into the “Youk” and headed for the Bowlarama in Portsmouth. On Tuesday you had asked if we could go bowling; it didn’t work then, but it fit into the program now.
The place was hopping with so many NH kids on school vacation. You were a little unsure of the whole thing… the location was new and there were fresh faces all around. When we first got there you said:
“I don’t feel comfortable.”
I asked why and helped you through the moment. We put on bowling shoes worn by many other people for many years and bowled a couple candlepin strings. This was the first time you had done it without “bumpers,” so it was more challenging. You were nervous, worried what others were thinking. I pointed to the three people next to us and said “Look at their score.” It was MUCH lower than what we were bowling. I don’t think that persuaded you much.
Like life, there were ups and downs. At one point you said:
I’m not having fun.
I told you the story of when I used to go bowling with Grammy when we were younger and she’d beat me every time. And I was trying to win! Her Mom would tell her “You should let him win.” And Grammy would say “Why would I do that?”
We pushed through it, both of us rolling gutter balls and sometimes only knocking down two or three pins. But there were games when eight or nine pins fell and on two occasions you got two strikes, knocking down all 10 pins over three tries. I did it once.
Our final scores were close – we each won a string by a few pins.
I was proud of you for hanging in there, pushing through a challenge, not giving up and proving to yourself you could achieve something new. Remember this as you get older Ben… push yourself to get to a new, better place, don’t settle. You can do it, believe in yourself.
