Just one quickie before we head out to Montecello (or possibly beyond, depending on how we are feeling). The "Jet Packs, Jet Packs" thing is actually very funny. The handle bars in the back seat of the tandem sort of go up at the end and are capped off with these silver caps, sort of like upside down drop bars. So whenever Matt and Solomon are going uphill, Solly presses his thumbs on the silver caps and says "Jet Packs, Jet Packs, Jet Packs". I think it helps him pedal harder. Not to be out done, Yonah has started saying "Jet Packs, Jet Packs, Jet Packs" everytime he farts. Usually Yonah is ahead of me but if I'm not loaded down with too much water I love riding with just the two of us. It is during these times especially that I feel like I have scratched through to another surface of Yonah, below the sort of ackward teenager stuff and the rush and busyness of school, below the subtle anxiety of daily life as a 13 yr. old.
When Matt and Solomon (on the tandem), are riding alongside Yonah, there are hours and hours of travel games like "Botacello" (sort of like 20 questions of famous people or characters), "name this tune", "dictionary", etc. But also there are lengthy discussions on the Bill of Rights, Constitution, grammer, literature, history, and current events. It is like homeschooling. I'm learning so much. Before this trip I could only name 2 of my Rights (speech and religion)now I know them all....and intend to use them. I'll have ample opportunity out here because most of these tanning salons also double as Gun and Ammo shops.
Here is one last funny thing that Solomon has taken to doing and then I sign off and go grocery shopping and we head out for another great bike ride. Wait, one more last thing. Every day Yonah has to ask, at least one time "do you think this water is potable?"
Here is the funny thing Solomon now does. About a year ago he started doing this very subtle little ritual (he has dozens of them, it is so weird but many people with weird kids assured me their kids did it too at this age)that was different than the usual tapping the faucet 7 times after turning the water off, etc. This one involved sort of saluting his chicken burrito and saying softly and under his breath, so that only the most astute observer would notice, "Gracias Gallina". He usually said it once or twice, quietly and at the beginning a little self-consciously. If he was eating lamb or beef he would say "Gracias Carne" and the same subtle little salute of the hand. WELL, these wide open spaces have helped him find his voice because now he just belts it out like an opera star. I bought some Beef Jerkey the other day at that little hippy health food store I wrote about. Everytime now, before he eats a piece, he raises his hand to his forhead in this huge ROTC style salute and belts out three times, in increasing volume, "gracias carne, Gracias Carne, GRACIAS CARNE". Man, it is so funny.
I'll leave you with that and write more at the next opportunity.
Love,
Djina
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10 comments:
I'm very moved by your description of Yonah's blossoming leadership. Kids that age are so capable but often have nothing besides school and sports to master, and there are so many other ways they can shine. And I love hearing about Solomon displaying his obsessions proudly. Thanks for giving us all a peek into your world. It's inspiring! I think about y'all as I work towards my humble goal of swimming a mile at a time. I'll have to think about something like this for Daniel.
Love,
Ruth
oho, what am I, chopped liver?
sasha
she's not chopped liver, it's just that she's already got a goal and is achieving it! She swam more than two miles on Wednesday!
Ruth
i've been keeping up with your trip and it sounds AMAZING! i can't believe how much endurance you guys have. i just want to say that my dad and I have some guidelines for diner eating:
no "family dining" (you are right on about that one)
no "Kountry Kitchen's"
no other intentionally misspelled words.
hope that helps. :-)
Sasha
Solly remember it was our birthday the 27 of June? Well probably you guys forgot because you where really tired.
Keep it up! I love the details. You guys are amazing. I adored the descriptions of the night time desert riding. I keep spreading the word of your fantastic journey. Today I ran into Mark of Mark and Anita fame (a biking family) and told him about it. You are inspirations all.
Love, The Kattens
Sasha, everyone knows you are definitely NOT chopped liver, more like a perfectly marinated and grilled lamb. I loved your diner advice. Especially the Kountry Kitchen. Matt and I have long despised intentionally misspelled words. Even Toys "R" Us (with the R backwards drove us nuts). We also now avoid anyplace that ends in "shack".
Ruth, I am loving the little tete-a-tete you and Sasha have going on here. Makes me a little homesick...but in a good way.
Eric and Andrew, we DID NOT forget your birthday. Solomon reminded us and he wanted to call you but we couldn't get any reception and no phone was available.
Happy Birthday you guys. We love you and are so very happy you were born.
Hi Djina and Matt, Solly and Yonah,
We have been following your fascinating accounts of these summer days, and find ourselves more and more amazed with each entry. The photos help make it all the more real. Keep em coming!
The stories are so rich and entertaining- we often check your blog a few times a day, just to see if all is well, and to get a good chuckle for the day.
We're all rooting for you across these miles...
Love,
Laura, Chris, Kian, Madeline and Julia
PS-No one can fart in our house these days without someone yelling, "jet packs, jet packs!"!
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