New little friend
Yesterday around 7:15pm I was sitting on a bench at the Grove (adjacent to the permanent Farmer's Market at 3rd and Fairfax) in the designated area where I was to meet my friend Henry, with whom I was planning to get a burger at Johnny Rockets then see the 8:10pm showing of The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Henry was late (he was supposed to meet me at 7) and hadn't called, so I was sitting there slightly miffed but far from having an unpleasant time.
Combine the shopping areas of Disneyland and Vegas, add your favorite neighborhood mall, bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer until thickened: presto, you've got The Grove. It's a great place to fade into the background and feel the happy little vibe going on. There's even a choreographed dancing fountain that swirls around to the background music, like a mini Bellagio pool setup.
So I was sitting there, peering at the world through my (literally) rose-colored sunglasses, and I saw this adorable little mother-daughter duo. The little girl must have been barely a year-and-a-half, and was bobbing along with an enormous grin, dark curls jiggling, walking goose-step toddler style with the support of her mother's hand. I wasn't turned to look directly at them, because I have trouble tearing myself away from the mystique of sunglasses (appearing to be looking one direction but really looking somewhere else). But as they walked by my bench, the little girl insistantly stopped her mother, pointed at me, smiled even wider, and squeaked, "Pookie!"
For some reason that made me really, really happy!
Henry showed up five minutes later. The burger was good. The movie was fun, with a great cameo by David Koechner. Would be a good date movie (though yesterday evening wasn't a date).
posted by MJ @ 11:59 AM
20 Comments:
And so MJ was forever more labeled "Pookie" by all who knew her and hearing that name called out in a crowded street never failed to bring her back to this very moment - and it always made her smile.
Erm...Henry's late? He's not pregnant, is he?
Acutal rose coloured glasses and the hijinx of kids always make for a rollercoaster of fun!
Now I must eat a burger. Man, I want a burger so badly now....
mmmmmmmm.
Little kids are great that way. Kids like that are the reason my wife and i decided to have children. My daughter will be 2 in October but she's yet to say any words or do anything as significant as you've described. I won't go into the details and I'd prefer it if you didn't mention it on my blog. But suffice it to say, seeing what little children (younger then our daughter) are capable of, makes us sad.
The dancing fountain at disneyland was one of my favorite parts when I went there. Of course, I was 5.
I think that little girl has come up with a pretty good new nick-name for you!
Joe and Trevor: Pookie probably would be a pretty apt nickname for me, but one of my best friends and her husband call each other that. I'm not joking. So Pookie is sort of off-limits to me.
XRay: May I suggest Johnny Rockets' Route 66?
Raza: My cousin didn't say a coherent word until he was around 3 or so. Turned out he had some sort of fluid in his ears that was making him effectively deaf. They operated. It took about four more years to get him back on track, but now he's a normal, healthy 11-year-old boy. We're all very thankful. Anyway, I will be thinking about you and your family, and I shall pray that your daugher's pace is simply her own, unique way of incorporating the world.
Are you sure it wasn't a date? Because it sounds like a date.
Raz, my oldest son also didn't say anything until he was about 3, and then it came very slowly. After hearing tests came back fine, we took him to a child neurologist - supposedly one of the best - who said the communication part of his brain was wired funny. He said there's no name for this condition. He'd seen kids like this before and said most turn out fine and that speech therapy helps a lot. So we did that. He's now 9 and sometimes I can't get him to shut up. But he still has trouble expressing himself much of the time. The single best thing we ever did was give him a little brother - who's now 5. They get along beautifully and the 5-year-old - who's a big clown - has forced his older brother to talk and joke around over the years.
I'm not saying this is your daughter, but just letting you know what I've experienced in case any of this might help you in some way.
Oh yeah, quite sure, LBB. Just meeting a friend I haven't seen in awhile, and we both like burgers and both wanted to see that movie.
t - sounds like you've got two great boys!
Thanks, MJ.
They're both smart, too!
The oldest gets great grades and the youngest...well, he just started kindergarten. But he looks like he'll do well, too.
MJ: Sounds like you had a good time at The Grove! I know what it's like there. It's hard not to have a good time at The Grove. I love it there!
Raza: In the words of Dear Abby: seek counseling. Get help. You never know what it could be. Seriously, though, if she's two and not speaking, you might want to see your pediatrician and just make sure that everything is working properly. I hope that she's just doing her thing and that everything works out for the best.
I went to Wendy's... I was disappointed. Honestly though, there is nothing I love more than a good burger. Ok, there ARE a few things - but its close!
When I was a wee boy I loved a song by a one-hit wonder band called Pookah Makes 3. For the life of me I cannot remember the title of the song but it was well before my ears broke free from the shackles of mainstream music, so it's probably on a Best of the '80s compilation. Anyone?
How does Pookah strike you?
I get creeped out when children start speaking in tongues.
Oooh! I'm very sorry to hear that you found out about your girlfriend & her husband calling each other Pookie. I hope it didn't scar you for life or anything :P
Hey, I'm not going to get into it any further. Suffice it to say, you can not offer me advice that we have not already undergone and I will not share anything further on the subject.
T, thanks for that bit of info.
MJ, if you so choose, you'll make a great mom someday! :D
Doug: When I first went I hated it because it was so blatantly commercial, but it has totally grown on me.
XRay: Wendy's?????? I hope you've learned the error of your ways. If you're going to imbibe greasy processed heart-wrecking beef, go for quality so at least you can enjoy the meal.
BT3: Why does that ring a bell? It's a little bell, like a malfunctioning service bell on a faraway breeze, but a bell just the same...
Pookah, eh?
Latigo: I'm sure you had your own little language when you were a wee one!
HDD: Neh! They make good Pookies. And thanks--I certainly hope to be a great mom one day :-)
Raza: *Hugs*
"Wendy's?????? I hope you've learned the error of your ways. If you're going to imbibe greasy processed heart-wrecking beef, go for quality so at least you can enjoy the meal."
Preach it sister! I knew I liked you!
Yeah, I would have, but I only had 45 minutes and it is the only burger place close by. It's sad.
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