A Daddy Grows Up: A Chronicle of Our Journey: October 2016

The Runtyun

She was born the same month that I was, forty years later though. When the excitement of the birth was over and the baby was clean and wrapped up in her birthing cloths, when I stopped feeling woozy and found a certain control over my emotions. The nurse handed me the cooing little bundle–my daughter.

She was warm in my arms. All I could see were her eyes, they were so big. I know that at only a few minutes of age there is not very much for a baby to reference, yet she looked straight at me and she had me. At the time I did not know the adventures that I would go through as a father. The things I would endure as a parent and man. At the time all I saw were eyes and a bright red pudgy face and a little bubble of saliva at the corner of her mouth.

I put her down on the birthing table and just stared. What had I done? This little creature, perfect with ten toes and ten fingers, one little head that looked too big for that little body. What had I done? I put my hand out to her to see what she would do. Nothing. I guess she could not see–being only few minutes old. My finger brushed her hand, she did not jump, but reached out and gripped my finger. She was strong!

She would have to be strong coming into the life I was involved in. We went through a few struggles before getting to the somewhat stable life we live now. During her toddler years she was very out going. Her smile in the morning was brighter than the sun at sunrise. It carried me through some of my darkest days.

Now she is so wise, yet strangely naive. She can understand things beyond her years, yet in another minute ask a question so innocent that I can only wonder. The Runtyun is growing into a fine person despite my parenting skills.

I have stumbled through this whole parenting experiment and you know what? She is doing pretty well despite me.

Monday, October 31, 2016

Oh, the long road to being settled

Wow so many changes in our world lately. The cat. The move. The Runtyun's boy friend. Birthdays. Invading the space of her Grands. Not to mention the Grinner being broke down. Strife at work. Oh, and the World Series.

Last night, I was in the basement trying to strategize just how to get the whole mess of the move unpacked and stowed away. About that time the Runtyun and BF come home. So I needed to pay attention to them and their needs for a minute.

Well, it turns out the Runtyun really wants to have her purple Princess mosquito net put up. This thing is like a purple cone which hangs over her bed with jangly things which reflect light. It is a kinda cool thing which adds a little splash to her newly constructed room.

I started to put it up when the cat, Nova, decides to jump up on her bed and pee.

Boy, does cat pee really have a strong smell!

I had made the Runtyun's bed without putting a mattress liner on it, taking the chance nothing would happen. That gamble failed.

And now for a shout out to the kids and their desire to make things right. Ian the BF, did not understand why he had to do all the stuff I asked of him, but he did everything needed to make it better. Not only that, he took it upon himself to give the cat a warm bath.

We think the flea treatment may have caused her bladder issues, so no more of that of the moment. Nova seems to be over her distress, and we hope there will be no other issues to deal with. For a cat, she is OK. I guess I don't want to use her as an experiment for a new recipe right now, anyhow. She talks to me and makes as much sense as most people I have "real" conversations with. So I guess she is a keeper for a New York Minute.

Tonight we will continue on with settling into our new environment and the net will be installed and I may even get some more "planning" done.

olc

Oh, the long rod to being settled