Bowman West

"Monkeys Make Me Happy"

Today I was pushing Charlie on a swing at the playground and he just started saying " ______ makes me happy." He listed Daddy, Grandaddy, Mom (Grammy), Paw Paw, Grandma, all the rest of his family and friends. He ended with "Monkeys make me happy." Well, ok then. Crazy kid.

Anyway, sorry it's been so long. Charlie and I spent ten days in Georgia for a sister/cousin vacation. It was great and crazy. We all ended it sick with a stomach virus. Seriously, no one was spared. It was a great time though and it made me sad that we're all so far away from each other.

Things here are still weird since we're struggling to unpack between trips and visitors. Andy's folks are coming in a few days so we're super excited about that! I'm trying to figure out what cool stuff we'll show them.

Andy's enjoying work. He's already had some tough cases and LONG workdays but he loves it. The other night we went up to campus and he showed me his office. It's just inside the main entrance to the medical school. The medical school at UVA (planned by Thomas Jefferson) was the tenth in the U.S. when it was established in 1825. Andy's office is just inside the front door. Awesome! I'm pretty sure the whole place is haunted and it freaked me out to go to the bathroom by myself so I'll stay clear of the place at night. Like every other building on the campus, it's red brick with huge white columns and a gigantic magnolia tree out front. VERY charming. I'd post pictures but I haven't taken any and you can probably just Google it anyway. :)

Charlie's changing very quickly and I'm having a hard time keeping up. He's reasoning and talking and that leads to arguing. He's concluded that it's scary to sleep in his room by himself. He's in his twin bed but it's a struggle at each nap/bedtime to get him to stay in bed. One reason he's having a hard time, according to him, is because he's scared of John Wayne. You're confused. Let me explain. I have a fascination with John Wayne. My grandaddy loved watching his movies and I watched them with him so now I love John Wayne. When my aunt told me that she had some John Wayne dolls (my grammy was fascinated with buying dolls) that I could have for Charlie's room, I jumped at the chance and stuck them on his bookcase. I told Charlie all about John Wayne and we named his first teddy bear "Duke." There you have it. Anyway, as I feel is natural, Charlie has become freaked out by the John Wayne dolls. I don't blame him. I don't like dolls staring at me either. I put them away but he's still fixated. If fact, just a few minutes ago we were sitting at the table eating lunch and Charlie brought it up again. He stuck a raisin on each finger and called them puppets. I asked what the puppets were named. He said, "John Waynes. I eat John Waynes." Then he stuck them in his mouth and said, "No more John Waynes." Either Charlie has cannibalistic tendencies or he's been traumatized by my introduction of John Wayne into his life. Either way, I'm hoping our new insurance covers outpatient counseling. We might as well start him early.

What else? After four trips to the DMV I finally have my Virginia driver's license and my car registered. I still have to register it with the County so they can charge me a personal property tax on it. What's that about? Jerks.

There are several free publications here in town that I've gotten addicted to. In the back of one is a page called "Rants." Apparently there's a local number that anyone can call and leave a rant-containing message. They then print the best ones in the magazine. It's pretty hilarious. In honor of the C'ville rants, here are a few that I put together during my recent encounter with the Atlanta airport (the busiest airport in the world--literally!):

• To the thirteen-year-old girl who just visited her grandma for a week: ... I see you taking pictures of your chest and texting them to someone while waiting for your plane and I think it's highly inappropriate. What would your grandma think??!!


• To the TSA agent who thinks the family restroom is his own private lounge to occupy and pollute for half an hour: ... Thanks a lot. Get back to work.


• To the people spread all over the handicap seats at the gate waiting area: ... I know you see that old couple with the man in the wheelchair with nowhere to sit. Have some respect and move your rear!


• To the 40-something-year-old businessmen on their Crackberries: ... I don't care if you have to give up your seat EVERY SINGLE TIME you get on a rental car shuttle bus. Do it. How'd you like to stand up while wrangling a toddler and sweating like a dog? Didn't think so. I know your momma taught you better than that, so move it and let me sit down with my kid!


• To the granola couple carrying nothing to the airport but a tent and an old-fashioned suitcase. I know you think you're cool and saving the earth and everything, but I know that tent is a Wal-Mart brand so you've still got a ways to go. Down with capitalism!