Some Bits of Gemma

I had a grand vision of writing a fairly complete travelogue from our summer escapades.  It's partly written already, come to think of it.  But I think now I need not to let the grand be the enemy of "at least something" and recall now a few Gemma things I've been hanging onto. . .

In May, the kids and I found ourselves in my sister's fabulous loft in downtown Chicago.  Officially, we were helping her by cat-sitting Sam and Max.  But, come on.  Who got the better end of that arrangement?

We parked the car in the building garage on Monday and did not get into it again until Saturday.

Gemma knew the drill from a visit we'd had last Fall:  Breakfast, then a city adventure including a big lunch out, then home, then time at the park just down the street, then small dinner at home, then bedtime.

At about 7:45 AM Tuesday morning, she was on my bed whispering, "Mom, it's time to get up.  The whole city is awake!"

***

One morning, en route to a nearby cafe I knew of to have breakfast (so much for routine), we discovered it was not open.  A passerby said, "Go to Yolk, it's so much better anyway," and kept walking. 

I called after her, "Where's Yolk?"

She spun around and looked at me, then at Gemma, then at Joshua, as though she hadn't actually seen the people she'd just counselled.  Then she gave me the intersection (which I know forget), and which I had to say, "And where's that," all of which was a friendly enough exchange. 

She said, "Cute kids," and then was off. 

Something I noticed: there were never any children out and about.   I know there are children in Chicago.  But unless they were getting off a school bus and then heading into the same museums we were heading into, or playing at the playground, we did not see them.

This was confirmed by women like this, by all the other professionals we walked among--they found my children to be. . .surprisingly placed.  Like, "Oh look!  A child!" 

But it was a warm reaction all the way around.

Yolk was several blocks away.  Josh said, "Let's take a taxi"--which was always his request because taxis have little televisions that play stupid commercials in them, but TV is TV, right?  His only preference above a cab was a bus.

Gemma said back to him, "No, Josh, that's not adventurous.  We have to walk!" and off she strode. . .

***
On just such a walk, this was Joshua:  Karate kicks and arm slashes, complete with sound effects.  Not sure what sparked that phase. . .

Here was Gemma:  Jaunty. 

Where did this child get her city mouse gene?  It must have skipped from Grandpa John down to her.

***

And, sure, Yolk was a good restaurant.  But doing breakfast well isn't that big a deal, at least, for people who can't eat any of the good stuff like stuffed french toast and other sugary delights.

***

She's a great dog trainer.  It's a little eerie, that a near-8-year-old would be so consistent.  So very consistently consistent.  I'm responsible for the all the dog training and I have no expectation of the children other than that they will not give him any of their food.  But, hey. . .

***

She's loving her Home School Academy day on Tuesdays.  They've already gone on a field trip to study the cliff dwellings in partnership with all they've been learning about the Anasazi Indians.

I could tell you all about them, too, because Gemma told me every last thing she learned on that field trip. 
An auditory learner.
And a bit of a teacher, we see.
Hmm.  Where did she get that?  Oh.  Right.

***

So enough about her, you're thinking.  Let's see the dog.

Yeah, he's pretty awesome. 
And the ear thing he's got goin' on has been for over a week now. . .