It was a recent school day morning, and because I had more energy than most days, I told Kate that I could take our kids to school and then head over to Duke Oncology for my weekly appointment. I have chronicled plenty of the heavier aspects of having cancer in my last several blogs, but today I just want to share with you a tickle-moment.
That morning I was driving Leo, Ella and Jordan to kindergarten, and we soon had one of the more interesting conversations of the school year. As I was backing our SUV out of our driveway, Leo asked from the back seat, “Dad, can we listen to OUR music instead of Bruce Springsteen this morning?”
Being in an unusually good mood, I agreed and switched the Sirius Radio station from channel 20 and ‘E -Street RADIO’ to channel 52 and ‘electric dance.’ Typically this station would not be my first choice, but my 23-year-old niece and God-daughter, Erika, sweetly introduced our kiddos to these new jams over the past two years when she was our nanny. (Side Note: we are so proud of Erika who has since moved out west to complete her undergraduate degree of Art at Colorado State University.)
As soon as the music came on, Leo, our six-year-old funny guy, started bobbing his head to the beat. Jordan, my youngest, said, “Look Dad, Leo is doing the turtle!”
I was smiling from ear to ear and wanted to engage them further in the moment, so I asked my crew a question off the top of my head, “Hey guys, what is your favorite number?”
The following answers were hilariously fascinating.
Leo’s twin sister, Ella, spoke up first; “Dad, my favorite number is 9 and 10. And sometimes 7.”
“Ok, ok,” I said. “Leo, how about you? ”
“Eight,” Leo offered without a moment of hesitation.
“How come?” I pursued.
“I don’t know, I just like it,” he said, simultaneously shrugging his shoulders as I looked in the rear view mirror.
Ella interjected, “I don’t like 8, Daddy.”
“Why not La-La?” I asked.
“I don’t like to draw it, because when you make an 8, the top circle is smaller than the bottom one and that’s not easy.” Oh, Ok, I see.
Jordan chimed in, “Daddy, you draw 8 just like a snowman.” She was beaming, proud of her contribution.
“It sure is sweetie!” I affirmed.
Ella couldn’t wait to get her next sentence out, “Daddy, Daddy, I have a joke. Do you know why 8 is scared of 7?”
“No, sweetie, why?”
“Because 7 ate 9. Get it?!” It took me a moment to digest, but it registered, 7-8-9. Ok.
Right then, all three kiddos broke out in belly laughs, and I giggled pretty hard at how amused the trio was with themselves. I was so happy to be in that moment with them.
After they settled down a smidge, I asked Jordan, “J, what is your favorite number?” and she replied, “My favorite number is ten hundred!”
I laughed again. “Ok, Ok,” and she quickly amended her statement, “I like one thousand.” (Another Side Note: I wasn’t sure if it was mere coincidence that they were the same number or if she actually knew what she was saying. You never know what the Montessori school they attend could have imparted into my 4-year-old’s mind.)
As I was contemplating Jordan’s comment, she offered again, “Daddy, my real favorite number is where all the numbers stop. And Daddy, that’s a mystery.”
I looked back in the mirror again, she was shining. I was too.
I shook my head in amazement. This child is just 4 years old and her mind is working like this? “Look out world,” was all I could think.
We pulled into the school’s unloading lane and the kiddos bounced out of the car with their usual energy. I always roll my window down after I turn around in the parking lot and yell to them, “Ashtabalunka!” and they yell it back to me as I drive away. I told them it means ‘I love you’ in a secret language that my dad taught me when I was their age. They think it’s true. And it is.
As I turned back onto the main road, I felt a tear on my cheek. I was crying. Ella would say those are ‘happy tears.’ They sure were.
What is my favorite number? Well, anyone close to me would say its #14, which was my jersey number every year in all sports from 9th grade through the NFL. But this particular morning, it was 3; three for Le, La and J.
So, as you go about your day today, ask yourself, or your kids, “What is your favorite number?” and I hope you giggle at the answers like I did. We all deserve the simplest unexpected laughter from time to time. I hope you enjoyed mine.
Amen and AMEN