Author Archive
College Bound!
Another grandparent milestone yesterday as #1 and Mom visited to understand how to transfer tuition money for his first semester of college. Like our grandparents, The Rookie and Granny are helping to pay for some of the college expenses now through a 529 account. The 529 account is administered by Union Bank in Montgomery where The Rookie‘s favorite Aunt Syra worked (more about that below).
After the transfer was completed, #1 asked for one more thing that he hasn’t requested in a long time. The Rookie likes to chew gum while working at his desk and all the young grands have requested a piece of gum on each visit… #5 is the only one who still does it regularly.
So after #1 asked for a piece of gum, The Rookie smiled and handed it over along with another piece to take to #5. You ever notice that the folks who are the best at the soft skills don’t realize that they are doing it? :-)
More about Aunt Syra:
Aunt Syra was The Rookie‘s maternal grandfather’s sister. She started working at Union Bank at age 16 and stayed almost 50 years until retiring as a Vice President at a time when women didn’t rise that far up the corporate ladder. She was outgoing and generous, and we still have keepsakes from her that have been handed down. She was a self-taught piano player, and was really good at it. The story is that during the Depression, she got extra money by playing for weddings and parties, even occasionally playing at weddings at a Church of Christ when her crew trucked her piano over and parked outside the windows of the church. (The Rookie is not sure if that part actually happened or if the Church of Christ would even allow something like that, but The Rookie‘s Mom was 100% confident it was a true story) :-)
Within the margin for error…
Flash and Skeeter are essentially at even height at about 6’1″ apiece. Flash is maybe 0.1″ taller, but it’s hard for The Rookie to say since they are not consistently standing up straight (i.e. teenagers). Power Ranger and Reo are both surging, but none of the boys can keep up with Cookie’s purple line so far. :-)
Game Captains…
This morning #4 was the game captain for his soccer Team… he played well and didn’t allow goals while he was goalie but his Team lost.
The last time The Rookie was a game captain was in high school basketball… he didn’t allow the opponents leaving the bench area illegally to outnumber his Team on the court. His Team won the game AND the fight :-)
It’s raining pars !!
50 years ago The Rookie played a LOT of Putt-Putt golf. Won a tournament by shooting 24 in the last round. Made the Match Play round in a National qualifier and hung with the defending National Amateur Champion only losing 1-up. Today, played #4 in mini-golf and lost on the back nine.
The Rookie is proud to see #4 accepting coaching and draining par putt after par putt, but also gobsmacked at getting whooped by a 9-year old :-)
Mother’s Day Growth Update
Granny requested a measuring today and The Rookie delivers. Skeeter continues in the teenager spurt and he and Flash are like Twin Towers. Cookie is hanging with Power Ranger on the early growth rate. Reo is slowing a little but is improving in coordination… he’s handling a basketball much better.
I’m Growing!
Cookie says “I’m Growing!” and so she is in the latest Grandchild Growth Chart. Skeeter is in the teenager spurt and Cookie is hanging with him. Flash is now above 6’ but leveling off and Power Ranger is also slowing a bit. Reo continuing to narrow the gap but he doesn’t keep his heels on the floor during the measuring. :-)
Up in the air…
The Rookie remembers the night 10 years ago… Auburn has allowed touchdowns late and Georgia has gained the lead. Mom and grandchildren are at the house watching and restless. #3 is a baby and The Rookie is throwing him in the air and catching him to keep him happy (he has always loved danger). The 4th down prayers goes up, and then is tipped and for a long instant, everyone is feeling for the ball. Simultaneously, #3 is in the air and The Rookie has lost track of him and is feeling also. But then, the ball is caught and #3 is reeled in, and the crowd goes crazy! :-) #WarEagle
Candy cavalry
The Rookie sees the improvement in candy collection at the Homecoming Parades… the grandchildren are faster and work harmoniously when the candy is on the pavement. Also, #5 makes friends with mothers close by and comes back with double handfuls of candy in between the floats. :-)
Watch out World!
The Rookie is providing fair warning to all… #1 is now behind the wheel! :-)
Chinese Bananas…
It’s been a challenging 10 days as #1 had a ruptured appendix and Granny had COVID, but things are returning to normal. They need to be on their game when playing #5 in Chinese Checkers. She has some additional rules where her pieces can jump invisible pieces and hop over into the home area, and then they can also surround other player’s pieces just to visit (and so they can’t move). Kind of a Savannah Bananas vibe :-)
