Weekend visitor

When Maggie gets excited about something, she pumps her left fist in a rapid-fire movement. (Think Arsenio Hall.) Ask her if she wants to go to the park, if she likes Mission High, or any other question that would give an enthusiastic YES! She answers with a big smile and a dizzying movement of her raised arm. I am not sure when this started, sometimes it takes a while before you notice a trend, but we all know it now. We can even ask what she does when she is excited and she gives a little performance. That is done with a sly grin or a bored expression that says, “I’ll do it, but I’m not your monkey.” It’s hilarious.

Last night Maggie did not want to go to sleep. She was completely exhausted when she came home from school. So much so, in fact, that she just started crying, and that is very unusual for her. She slept for about 45 minutes and was back to her happy self. Maybe that nap threw her off or something, but when the nurse arrived (late) at 11:30, Maggie was wide-awake. I tried to stay out of her room as much as possible to avoid more stimulation, but of course, I have to be close enough to suction her when she needs it. I told her she had to sleep because she has school today and because there is a surprise this weekend.

Surprise? Her eyes just opened up as wide as can be as if to say “spill it, mom.” Ok, Maggie, guess who is coming home this weekend? She sucked in some air and waited. There was really only one possibility and we both knew it. I looked at her with wide eyes and said “Yep! EDDIE is coming home.“

I had to step back to avoid getting fist pumped right in the eye. She had her whole body into it. Obviously, this was not the smartest thing to do when I was trying to get her to go to sleep, but her reaction was priceless.

Eddie is #1 son, who is a senior in college in Nevada. He lives in Nevada now, past the era of coming home for summers etc. We only see him every couple of months and even then, it’s generally a blur. This time is no exception. He is coming home because some local buddies rented a house together and are having a house warming party on Saturday night. Of course, he has a bike race on Saturday so he cannot leave until 3 or 4 in the afternoon, drive four hours, come here, shower and then go to the party. He will go back on Sunday. I will see him for all of 20 minutes because I have to meet some friends early Sunday morning. Maggie will get those 20 minutes on Saturday evening and then get to spend time with him on Sunday.

It doesn’t matter, all Maggie wants is to see him enter and say “Whassup Mags?” or simply “MAGGIE!” is his fake baritone voice. That alone would entertain her until Thanksgiving.

Maggie does not even know yet that we are all going to go to the Collegiate National Mountain Bike Races at Northstar in October to watch him compete. He will be so busy at that event (he’s in charge of coordinating A LOT of it) she may not see him at all. Further when she does see him he may look like this


I know that would get her fist pumping.