1. Grokking Around. We go walking out to the soccer fields. He’s on a leash, pulling to reach that one magic spot along the chain link fence, that one spot that he always wants to check out. A pole comes between us, and he’s in danger of getting the leash wrapped around it. He stops, glances at the pole, turns around, and runs around my side so that he won’t get tied up and so he can get on with the business of the chain link fence. He must grok the concept of around.
2. Happy Grass. We’ve just come out of two years of deep drought. The creeks didn’t run for two and a half years, not even in the spring. The soccer fields had a hard time of it. Or rather, the soccer associations had a hard time, stuck as they must have been with massive water bills to keep the fields from turning into dust bowls. This year, the water barrels have been constantly full, and oh, is the grass happy. The soccer associations are probably happier.
3. The Planets. How is it possible that a high school student doesn’t know how many planets there are? Ok, you might be off by one, given the recent controversy at the fringe of the solar system. But, six planets!? Turn off the game console, man. I know I’m not exactly objective, but you’re in serious dark ages territory, here.
4. Box Ack. He got a Valentine’s Day box with some clothes and a card and some M&Ms. But that was last month. This month, I send another smaller box with miscellaneous things: microfiber towels to clean lint off a laptop monitor, Thin Mints, another card, a Lego kit as an inside joke. A message comes back late last night. One sentence, four words: Thanks for the package. I shall be thankful for small things.