Letters for George: Hanging Out With Grand Children

L, J, V, and Katja at Skyline Chili

Dear George,

It’s been an overly long time since December when we last saw our seven-year-old grandchildren, V and L, so we were excited about their arrival on Thursday evening for a long weekend. We had some initial trouble retrieving their carseats at airport baggage, but, the very moment that our son J had arranged for vouchers from the airline to purchase new ones, the carseats magically appeared on the conveyor belt. Katja had made lasagna, and we topped it off with ice cream at our neighborhood Graeter’s. Friday morning we went to the zoo, watched the baby cheetahs playing, took a zoo tour on the train, and did the gift shop. Then lunch at Skyline Chili, the children’s Cincinnati favorite. I did my annual interviews with L and V (see below), and V drew some cardboard animals to add to my recent arts and craft project. That evening we saw "Independence Day: Resurgence" at the Western Hills Cinemark (34% on Rotten Tomatoes is generous), and wound up at Putz’s Creamy Whip where the children were equally interested in eating softserve cones and capturing lightning bugs. On Saturday a.m. we went to a neighborhood yard sale, bought a flower and leaf press, and went to Burnet Woods to gather interesting leaves to be pressed. After hot dogs and baked beans, J and I took the children to Sunlite Pool at Coney Island for the afternoon, the biggest hit of the trip. L persuaded me to stand under the Typhoon Tower where seeming tons of water cascaded down on our backs and heads. J asked me to watch V do the diving board at the deep end of the pool, but, when he and L returned, I’d lost track of V and we couldn’t find her anywhere. As it turned out, she’d swum away to some unknown destination. We had pizza at Dewey’s, more ice cream at Graeter’s, and listened to the rock music at Clifton Plaza while V and a couple of other kids did a dance at the front of the crowd. Sunday came too quickly, and we got up at 5:30 a.m. to be at the airport for their early flight. Because we packed four days’ worth of activities into two and a half, we have lots of pleasing memories. Probably most grandparents think this, but I'd say that V and L are remarkable. Not only are they smart, articulate, and fun, they get along amazingly well and look out for one another. Here’s what L and V had to say when I interviewed them.

Interview with L

How old are you now? Seven

If you could be any age there is, how old would you want to be? Twelve.

Why is that? Don’t know.

What do you think it will be like to be a teenager? Fun. Different. Be grown up.

What do you think will be different about your new school? I went to visit. It was good.

What is your favorite thing about school? Recess.

Why is that? Play games.

What is the most difficult thing? Working.

How would you describe yourself as a student? Smart. Hard-working. I play.

Do you have any hobbies? No.

Do you collect anything? No… I collect legos.

Do you collect Pokemon? No, I’m all done.

Which would you like most?: To have lots of friends; to make lots of money; to help children and poor people; to write a Broadway show? Make lots of money.

How much money? A couple hundred thousand.

What animal are you most like? Lion.

Would you say you are more funny or more serious? More funny.

Are you more good-looking or more intelligent? (pause) More intelligent.

More cautious or more bold? More bold.

Which is the best time of life? Babies; young kids; teenagers; adults; old age? Young kids.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what it would be? My intelligence.

More intelligent or less intelligent? More.

What is your favorite holiday? Christmas.

Why Christmas? Lots of presents.

What is one of your earliest memories as a little child? Me holding my mom’s hand for the first time.

Do you get an allowance? Yes,

How much? Five dollars every Saturday.

What do you use it to buy? Toys.

Do you like:

Movies? Yes

Zoo? Yes.

Going to the dentist? No

Airplanes? Yes

Doing math? No

Watching sports on TV? No

Tests in school? No

Roller skating? Yes

Walking the dog? No

Have you ever had a nickname? Yes, Shezong.

What is something that makes you sad? V kicking me.

If you found a genie in a bottle who could grant you any wish, what would your wish be? Having more wishes.

If you could vote, would you vote for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton? Donald Trump.

What do you think makes for a happy life? Being loved by my mom.

Interview with V

How old are you now? Seven.

If you could be any age there is, how old would you want to be? One.

Why is that? I’d be the smallest.

What do you think it will be like to be a teenager? Fun but scary.

What is your favorite thing about school? Recess.

What is the most difficult thing? Working.

Do you have any hobbies? Gardening.

Aside from your brother, who is your best friend? Sophia.

What do you like about her? She’s been my friend since kinder.

Do you ever get mad at your brother? Yes.

Why? I don’t want to say.

What do you want to be in life? A vet.

Which of the following would you want to be?: An actress; a politician; a soldier; an airplane pilot; a police officer. A police officer.

Why is that? Because I can make the world a better place.

Which would you like most? To have lots of friends; to make lots of money; to help children and poor people; to write a Broadway show. To help children and poor people.

What animal are you most like? A cheetah.

Did you see the baby cheetah at the zoo today? Yes, they were so cute.

Which would you like to do the most? End poverty; end cancer; end war; end blindness? End blindness.

Would you say you are more funny or more serious? Serious.

Are you more good-looking or more intelligent? Intelligent.

More cautious or more bold? Bold.

What is your favorite sport? Swimming.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what it would be? Nothing.

Do you like:

Movies? Yes

Zoo? Kind of.

Going to the dentist? No