Run to the Whistle

Take Him Out
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Football has been interesting. Alex has an aggressive mindset that should put him on defense, but he is a tight end. Likewise, Michael should be a wideoout, instead they have him as a 2 technique. Both are relatively small, because they foolishly group 2 years together, and our guys are both on the young side. It is not pretty in many ways, but one thing does bring my heart joy: they are now running to the whistle, and in the end that is the sort of thing I want them to get from their foray into tackle football.

RAP (9.5.2008)

The Arguing Narrators

Throwing Out the Script
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

The boys spent the final summer nights, those of Labor Day weekend, camping in our backyard, and as fate would have it inspiration struck from out of the blue. I was the lone sole awake as Michael came in, searching for a hard surface to write on. He wanted to create a play; his script was more of a story board with prose, due to his comics background, for a work he christened "The Arguing Narrators."

It was a tale about one narrator being interrupted by a second narrator with hijinx ensuing. In the encore performance you see here, Michael is the first narrator and Alex is his foil. The original performance was done in the tent that evening for the neighbor girls, Kami and Daniela. Perhaps Michael's inspiration was not mysterious, but a gift from a pair of young muses.
RAP (9.4.2008)

First Concert

Run Alex Run
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

I try to expose the kids to a variety of things, and the latest foray into broadening their horizons was their first real, as opposed to our 4th of July parties, concert. It was a small festival featuring an array of small, alternative, artists (honeyhoney, ism, darker my love, tickle me pink, vhs or beta, etc.) that offered the kids the full concert experience.

They hung out at the second stage, they were in the pit and they lounged on the lawn. They didn't get it all (they still don't get why I was trying to get they to say "Hello, Cleveland" and "Play Freebird," but most people wouldn't), but it gave me confidence that we could take them to a bigger show; Michael likes the Foo Fighters.

So what did they think? Michael liked the music (we all liked honeyhoney); Alex liked that they served White Castles.
RAP (8.28.2008)

Impossible to Discount Any Longer

On The Bus
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

The first day of school made it impossible for Michael to discount any longer that his best friend, Jon, moved to Baton Rouge this summer; as he tried to sleep, an uncontrollable sadness swept over him as the loss become unignorable.

Talking about school yesterday, Alex used the phrase, "the friends I know." You can easily read into that that he understands everybody else are simply friends he doesn't know yet. Michael is not like Alex, and is instead is similar to me; his way is to have a few, very close friends, but as rewarding as that can be it also carries a significant penalty when you lose one.

As an adult, I can minimize the impact of distance in the modern world, but that doesn't help you when your friend isn't at your lunch table or hanging out at recess. The only hope I could offer him last night was the idea that if we returned to Mardi Gras once more this year, I bet Jon would come see us. The idea of hanging out with Jon during the carnival parades made him happy, and it also made it more likely that we will once more return to New Orleans in February.

RAP (8.27.2008)

A Good, Well-Rounded Kid

Barfly
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Michael is a good big brother, and his leadership inspires Alex; I contend that Michael's love of reading has encouraged Alex to become the great reader he is, and I would also argue that Michael's innocence preserve Alex's. That may seem a little silly; the older child keeping the younger one more innocent, but Alex is more worldly and streetwise than big brother.

One may worry that Alex could lose his individuality to Michael's lead, but I assure you Alex is his own man. Sometimes Alex guides Michael; it was his drive to play football that encouraged Michael to go it a shot. Also, Alex has his own interests as demonstrated by the past weeks of chess and cupcake camp. I am pleased with how his well rounded, eclectic tastes have mixed with his brother's stewardship; Alex Patton, a football playing, chess enthusiast, baker, bookworm who is worldly wise, but is wise enough to linger in the golden days of childhood seems like a good, well-rounded kid to me.
RAP (8.22.2008)

"You Have a Wonderful Boy"

Here We Go
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Recently, while checking out at the Krogers on Bridge Street, Michael vanished. Jenny was momentarily panicked, but her fears passed as soon as she found him several registers away. It turns out that Michael had spied an elderly gentleman in a wheelchair and, being Michael, offered to assist him unloading his groceries onto the belt. The man accepted, and by the time Jenny caught up with him they were almost done. She was about to lecture Michael, but that was short circuited when the gentleman spoke. In a most sincere way, he told her, "You have a wonderful boy."
RAP (8.19.2008)

A Future in Politics

Ever Social
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Before Alex was born, I predicted that he would be able to be elected to office if he so chose; as time passes, and his skills and personality are revealed, my chatter seem more and more like a premonition. The most recent foreshadowing came Monday when Alex informed us that he organized the kids at chess camp so that they shared their snacks with each other. That evening Chris Obert was caught raiding his pantry by his mother; he was inspired to bring more items to share (Chris also now wants braces because Alex has them!). On Tuesday the fever peaked, as one little girl, whose name Alex does not even know, got carried away during the feast of Alex and enthusiastically told the others, "we need people like Alex to end world hunger." After which she proclaimed, "if he were to run for president, I would vote him!" A hearty cheer erupted as the lunch room morphed into scene reminiscent of parliament as the others kids loudly added their "me too"s! By the way, have I ever told you that if Alex wants one, I think he has a future in politics?
RAP (8.18.2008)