December 4, 2007 by Barbara.

We had the car packed and were leaving our driveway only 2 minutes later than Ken had planned on Friday. I was seriously considered writing about this accomplishment and letting everyone know that at least part of our trip had gone as it should because I was afraid the rest of the drive would be challenging. I wasn’t jinxing us, just reflecting on the usual course of events. It took us twice the normal time to get to the 401, with Ken driving in near white-out conditions at 20-30 kilometres an hour. Poor Reid said at one point she needed to pee but there was no safe place to pull over. Soon she was saying, “Mama, I’m peeing,” and looking at me like I should be able to help her. Safety over sanitation, that’s my motto. I reassured her that it wasn’t her fault and we’d get her into dry clothes as soon as we could. In the time before we finally got to an off ramp and gas station, Reid reported a few times, in surprise and maybe discomfort, “Mama, I peed.” I can remember the last time Reid peed in her pants and she probably can’t either.

Reid watched a Diego Saves Christmas and then part of a Toopy and Binoo Big Parade on dvd, I listened to Scorpion’s Gate (a book) on my iPod and Ken continued his white-knuckled driving until I realized it was 8:30 and time for Reid to be asleep. She protested a bit but not much. Maybe she knew she’d snuck one by us staying up so late. Reid and I did our best to cuddle to sleep, given that we sit on opposite sides of the backseat and she is in a car seat. My back was happy to discover that Reid went to sleep quickly and I did, too. If you’re feeling sorry for Ken, and you should given the driving conditions over the first 3.5 hours of the trip, I want to state publicly that he didn’t want the distraction of me talking to him and he supported my use of the iPod. I would never have listened to it otherwise.

Reid and I slept through snow to Kingston and then strong winds to Wheatley. In fact, Reid slept through a stop at a gas station, though I woke for it. To be precise, I woke up just in time to say, “We’re in Kent County now; we just have to get to the other side.,” as Lila used to say whenever I went somewhere with Janet when we were kids. (It used to drive us crazy, if you’re wondering.) Reid’s eyes popped open as we turned into Grandma Joyce’s subdivision. Reid looked around, announced we were nearly to Grandma’s and said, “I’m not tired anymore.” That made one person in the car who wasn’t tired ;+) I had trouble with the code to the garage door and so tried ringing the doorbell and then pounding on the door, all to no avail. I went to Aunt Karin’s and knocked on the window until Uncle Dave woke up. He was very coherent for a guy who’d been dead asleep but they didn’t have a key. Uncle Dave did share the secret of the garage door code and promised to come over if it didn’t work when I told him we were coming back to sleep on his couches if we couldn’t get in.

The code plus the trick worked and we got into the house about 2:45 am. By the time Reid and I had used the bathroom and climbed into bed it was pretty much 3:00. Contrary to Reid’s declaration of wakefulness, she was back asleep within minutes of getting into bed (thank goodness!) and slept until 7:30.

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December 4, 2007 by Barbara.

It’s Chantelle’s birthday today and I wanted to take a few minutes to tell some stories about her. She had said that Reid would be the best birthday present. When I suggested that I’d skip this email she told me that she was looking forward to it. No pressure, eh ;+)

When we were kids, Grandma Joyce used to tell us that she hoped that each of us got a child that was just like us. Chantelle was Pam’s mini-me. I, of course, wasn’t born when Pam was young but Grandma Joyce said that Pam had a whiny voice, regardless of what words she was saying. Chantelle had that, too, for awhile. She had her sparkly, happy eyes and a whine that made you want to stab your own eyes. (Sorry, Chantelle, but it’s true.) We spent lots of time talking about Happy Face Hannah and Sad Face Sue. They don’t make sense in retrospect, since Chantelle’s voice and not her face was the problem. When we drew her attention to her tone, Chantelle could use a happier one. It’s hard to believe now, since Chantelle seems to always be smiling and talks in a very pleasant voice but back in the day, it was a different story.

When I think of how Grandma Joyce’s wish of a mini-me for each of us and how I see that it has come to pass for each of the others, I wonder what aspects of Reid are like my childhood self. In those moments when she is driving me crazy, especially, I wonder if it is my payback, compliments of Grandma Joyce. It’s a lot like that Chinese curse/blessing: May you live in interesting times. It cuts both ways.

As a grown woman, Chantelle has impressed me by her industriousness. I know first hand how easy it is to get comfortable in your job and let schooling slide. The courses that Chantelle has taken have taken her away from deserved rest but she perseveres. And really, doesn’t every family need someone who is a trained aesthetician? ;+)

Happy birthday, Chantelle.

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