I realized today that I’m not a kid anymore. For years, I’ve said I don’t have kids because I’m too young. I stopped saying that close to a year ago. About three months ago, I stopped saying that it wasn’t that long ago when I was in high school. I guess it’s that I don’t feel like a grown up. I don’t know how a grown up is supposed to feel, but I feel just like I did before Robin and I married. Maybe I got married young so marriage didn’t make me feel older. Maybe it’s because I don’t have kids. Maybe it’s because our favorite pasttime is to play games. I don’t know why. But I’ve got to grow up. I need people to take me seriously. And today I realized I have to take myself seriously. And act like a grown up.
Now I have to figure out how.
Today it was 82 degrees. Whoot! It’s been so hot for so long, I thought I’d die from heat stroke before it ever cooled off. Yes, you read me correctly - cooled off. Mama called this morning and talked about it being cold outside. I have to admit that I thought it was down right nippy. I think I’ve totally lost my mind.
In my family, nicknames play a big role. I am known as Kristock, Kristocker, Tock, Tocker, and Nink. Brandy answers to Branj, Bronj, Branji - and was once known as Unjon. Even Little Miss Laurel Marie has multiple nicknames - no matter how hard she tries, she can’t get rid of “Bob.” She’s also LaLa, Lolli, Sompie, and Tony. Don’t ask how we got most of these names, we generally don’t know.
On September 4, Brandy had a son - Caleb Allen. I’ve tried calling him KK since his sister is LaLa, but I don’t like it - mainly because to write it like his name means spelling it CaCa - too much like poopy. And we don’t need to encourage him to do that more often. Brandy calls him “Little Man.” That works okay, but he really needs something to call his own. Lots of boy babies are called “Little Man.” I know we’ll think of a nickname for him someday, but right now, Caleb just seems like a lot for the little guy. He’s only five days old, so I don’t want to rush it. He needs something good and solid that will last a few years. Suggestions welcome.