Number Eight

"Mum, do you remember when I went on a trip?," my daughter asks.

It was only this past weekend that we travelled to Moose Jaw to attend my Aunt's funeral. So I answer that, "Yes, I do remember our trip."

Then Isobel says "Let's go back to 'Number Eight.'"

For a moment I can't figure out what she is talking about. And then it dawns on me. We stayed in the Super 8 Hotel. She wants to go back there and push the buttons for the elevator and eat in the breakfast bar. She cried when we checked out. Such a big adventure for a 4-year old girl.

Later, I laugh and ask her where she'd like to go.

"To the Number One," Isobel replies.

She should be in charge of the corporation's advertising portfolio.

Gives a whole new meaning to the old sayings, "Behind the 8-Ball" or "Eight is enough." Now we stay at "Number Eight," too!

A Child's Perspective on Ice Fishing...

We took the "scenic route" home from the funeral on Sunday afternoon. At Saskatchewan Landing we were surprised to see several groups of fishermen out on the ice with their gear. Since John thought the kids would enjoy seeing this, he pulled over to the shoulder of the road so they could have a better look.

As he pointed out the people and the vehicles on the ice below us, Isobel looked very surprised and then gave her take on it all.

It only took two words -- "That's NUTS!"

John told her, "That's right Isobel. It IS nuts!"

I couldn't have agreed more and thought to myself that I hoped none of the folk would fall through the ice that Sunday afternoon - a warm and sunny day in March.

"I Can't See the Box"

Isobel insisted on going to the viewing at the funeral home because she "wanted to see the box.' (Coffin). She said she wanted to know if it was "square, rectangular or pink."

She burst into tears in the parking lot of the funeral home saying, "It's kind of sad that Grandpa's sister died." We tried to comfort her and Grandpa made the mistake of telling her that "it was okay because she was OLD." That made the situation worse because Isobel thinks, since John and I both have grey hair, that we are OLD.

Isobel then responded, "I am scared someone else is going to die."

At that point I put her in the car and began to drive to the restaurant we'd agreed to go to for lunch. On the way, Isobel tells me, "Poor Auntie Ellen, she only got one visit from me." (Isobel remembers our day trip to Central Butte last September with Grandpa and Grandma). I took a deep breath and said to her, "Well, maybe someday, when you get to heaven, you will be able to visit with Auntie Ellen again."

Again, more tears welled up. And then a little voice answered from the backseat, "But I don't want to have to die to get there."

None of us do, my dear girl.... none of us do.

She fell asleep on John's lap during the actual funeral but was wide awake and intent on seeing everything at the cemetery. At one point, during the commital service she began talking to John. He tried to shush her and she said, "But Johnny.... I can't see the box!" And so he dutifully moved a few feet to the right so that Isobel could have a better view of the proceedings.

It's been an educational week for a small girl...

Bereavement ... From a Child's Perspective

My Aunt Ellen died on Saturday, February 27. She was 84 and had been in a care home for some time, but there is still grief and pain attached to her departure.

The next day I was trying to explain to Isobel that Grandpa was sad because his sister had died. And that she should tell him she was sorry about it and be extra kind to him.

After my explanation she smiled at me and said, "But he still has ME to RELAX with!"

A comfort, indeed.

Award Winning Daddies...

The other day Isobel told me:

"Daddy Johnny is the bestest Dad in the whole world." And then she added, "And Daddy Gordon is a good yeller."

Truth, spoken from the mouth of a 4-year old babe.

From A Child's Perspective....

Isobel and I were driving to North Battleford. When we were almost there she looked out the window and excitedly exclaimed, "Mum, look! Somebody scratched the sky!"

For a moment I wondered what on earth she was talking about. But then I managed to glance up from the road long enough to see a long white smoke trail in the sky coming from an airplane that had just flown past and to the west of us.

When I explained what the "scratch" was, Isobel said simply, "Oh, I didn't know that!"

What a girl....

Testing Out the Carrots

It was New Year's Day. Alisdair was at his grandparent's house and John was working and so Isobel and I were the only ones at home. Earlier in the day she had gone to the fridge and helped herself to a large carrot - eating the whole thing raw.

"Carrots are good for your eyes," she informed me, between bites.

A few hours later, the power went off. Instantly the cartoons Isobel had been watching were off the air and the whole house was dark. Since I was in another room, she couldn't see me and began to panic.

"Where are you Mum?," Isobel yelled. I called back so she knew where I was. She came closer to where I was and said, "Now I can see your feet!"

I told her what was happening and that we would have to wait for the power to come back on again.

As we waited (and it took about 2 hours) Isobel sighed and exclaimed, "I guess those carrots didn't work after all!"

I guess she thought because she'd eaten a carrot, that she would be able to see in the dark!