Gavin TaleTwister # 52 : I WISH I COULD UN-SEE THAT!!!

So Gavin is at age 10 at a very sensitive age where he is starting to care what others think.  He feels criticized even if there is no criticism. We were at Papa's house and several times in the past, Gavin has hung on me while he moaned of boardem .  Finally one day Papa said to Gavin joking of course "Gavin leave my daughter alone!  You are bugging her and bugging her!"
Well gavin did not take this too lightly. That was 6 months ago.

So now every time we visit Papa,  Gavin tried to keep to him self as much as possible an even kept his lips sealed... Imagine that folks! Yep ....Gavin with nothing to say!! Doent happen often except now when we go to my dad's house.  As soon as we get there he is ready to leave, dying of boredom but still quite.
On this particular day, I had a rash on my leg that was starting to get infected.  I was mortified and did not show anyone but was thinking I needed a doctors advice. I am in the right place with dad being a retired physician.  Reluctant to ask my dad in fear of some holistic remedy he might propose, I sit quietly.  I show the spot to, my sister who is also a physician and instead of giving me medical advice she piped up and said "Dad loook at Usha's leg".
He did and immediately said with order in his tone. ... Usha you have an infection starting...Go sit in the HYPERTHERMIC DEAD SEA SALT outside and I promise you, it will get better.
I did and it absolutely did get better! I am now a believer in the mineral powers of the dead sea! Back to the story... Gavin patiently waited on the couch reading and playing games on his iPad.  Papa was sitting in the Dead Sea hot tub as well in his underwear!!! Yes I said in his underwear!  Papa stands up and is wiping the sweat off his face while his whitey tighty under wear is soaking wet and drooping down to his knees.  He wraps a towel around himself and drops his under whiteys off like a magic trick and slips on just his shorts (no back up underwear in site) .  He hobbles in with his widened gait and bowed legs, bear chest and  body still alittle wet quite redened from the heat of the tub water and his shorts now drooping from his body sweat and yes still with no underwear. His sweat, bear cheast and larger belly made it difficult to hold up his shorts so they hung a littl low.  OK so low that the top of his butt crack was showing.  I catch Gavin's eyes cut up to catch a glimpse at Papa.  He diid not want to get caught looking infear of being criticized but cant help but flatten his lips  like a duck, make his nose small and squint his eyes as if he smelled something bad.  He leans over to my sister who is sitting by Gavin and whispers to her "I wish I could un-see that!!"
  Gavin said just what everyone was thinking!

Gavin Tale Twister #51: WHY DON'T I JUST SKIP SCHOOL!

This morning, only the 4th full day of school, I overslept!!! I worked until 4AM and jumped in bed to grab a couple hours before having to do the morning school duties with the kids. Bill left for work at 6:00 AM and I am in lullaby land.
At 7:50 Sam runs into my room and screams "MOM WE'RE LATE!" I jump up  in a drunken sleep and yell up the stairs for Gavin to get up..."WE'RE LATE!"
Gavin pops out of his room "NO WE'RE NOT!"
"YES GAVIN WE ARE! HURRY UP WE'VE GOTTA LEAVE IN 10 MINUTES!"
In as very small voice "ok, I have to shower" like he was going to lolly gag through his morning rituals.
"GAVIN NO TIME FOR A SHOWER JUST PUT YOUR CLOTHES ON AND BRUSH YOUR TEETH, LET'S GO!"
Gavin looks down from upstairs knowing that he is going to say those dreaded words that have haunted Gavin since his early years when he had the D4 (See Tale Twister #3). Again in a small voice "but I have to poo!'
Sammy says "MOM WE'VE GOTTA GO RIGHT NOW !"
Feeling guilty about not getting the kids up on time and seeing the look on Gavin's face some how led  me to say "GAVIN, YOU WANT ME TO RUN SAM TO SCHOOL AND SWING BACK TO GET YOU?"
"yes please" Gavin says.
I return to find Gavin still on the pot. "GAVIN LET'S GO!"
A small voice replies "I'm pooping!"
I sigh and want to fuss at him for not being ready but the lingering guilt takes over and I say " I am going to take Maggie dog for her walk and when I get back, be ready!"
Small voice say "okaaa" fading at the end.
I know what that means... Gavin does not really want to be done pooping nor does he want to go to school.
After last year final report card came sighting Gavin's 46 tardies and 55 missed school days, Bill and I resolved that Gavin could not be tardy ever again.... until he is, like today! Of course that report card was a mistake obviously.  He was tardy a lot and just never went to the office to let them know he made it to school and of course they counted him absent. And Gavin had a few sick days too! It all adds up!
So back to today, I get back from the walk. I come inside and Gavin says take my temperature Mom. Well his head did feel warm so I did  and the thermometer read 98.8.  Gavin says I have a sore throat. Can I just stay at home.  I laughed "NO, GET IN THE CAR! LET'S GO!"
Small voice "ok".
On the way to school I ask "Did you eat a bowl of cereal?"
Small voice "no".
Guilty mom "you want me to drive through the Chick-a-fila drive through and get you something?"
Gavin replies "No we are going to be even later! Searching in his head for his schedule that day, his eyes suddenly light up as he says, "WE HAVE TO HURRY,  I CAN'T BE LATE FOR 2ND PERIOD!  I' ll just skip breakfast."
"What is 2nd period?"
"PE"
I laughed and said "Gavin your so funny! You could care less about first period Social Studies but now can't miss PE."
" No mom, not because I wanna go to PE, I just don't want to have to run if I am late!
"Gavin, 2nd period begins in like 3 minutes and we're still 10 minutes from school.  Your are going to be late to 2nd period PE no matter what.
Guilty mom "You want me to take you to Waffle House instead for breakfast and then drop you  off."
Long pause... "Well if am going to miss 2 classes, WHY DON'T I JUST SKIP SCHOOL?"
I am cracking up..."Funny Gavin!"  Of course my response is a lingering "Noooo! Chick-a-fila and then school."

Gavin Tale Twister #50: A Squirrel In The Road

This years summer vacation was to visit to see Bill's mom, Nana, in the nursing home in Halifax and then on see some baseball in Boston. It was our last day in Boston and we had tickets to see the Red Sox play against the Detroit Tigers.  We were staying just around the corner from the famous Fenway Park Stadium. It was a breezy 65 degrees on Saturday July 25th, 2015. Yes I said 65 degrees ....and breezy!! Sam and his dad went ahead to catch some of the batting practice and Gavin and I followed behind. As we weaved our way throughout the traffic of people, cars, and vendors, Gavin took my hand as to not get lost. I yanked him this way, pulled him that way, abruptly stopped to avoid a car trying to get through the sea of people, then quickly ran across the cross walk to avoid any potential hazards. We zig-zagged around cars and people for 3 blocks and I could see a little sweat on the side of Gavin's head. "We are almost there" I said to Gavin.
I was  a little out of breath and  with a sigh of relief, I hopped up on the curb next to our entrance  into Fenway.  As we stopped and took a breath, Gavin said "Wheew! You know mom? Now I know just how a squirrel in the road feels! I have to agree!