Grandkid Interviews

Dear George,

Our NOLA family came last week for a long weekend, and it was a welcome dose of happiness and excitement in the midst of our smothering heat wave.  Our daughter-in-law K had taken V and L on a long road trip to Michigan and was headed back home via Cincinnati, and our son J flew up for the occasion.  As is true each time we see them, the children were older, taller, smarter, funnier, and more accomplished.  L, in particular, has grown 9 inches in the last two years.  The visit went by quickly, but we packed in a lot.  Swimming at Coney Island’s Sunlite Pool, visiting Fiona at the Zoo, “The Ant-Man and the Wasp” at the Cinemark (appreciated more by the youth than the adults), some Wimbledon for the grownups, Skyline Chili, supper at Bronte’s, and ice cream at Graeters.  J did several household tasks I’d procrastinated on and made us a gift of fire extinguishers from Ace Hardware.  The children showed me how to make slime, and I showed V how to do Suduko (she solved the entire puzzle on her very first try).  After the road-trippers set out on Sunday, J and I went to the Terracotta Army exhibit at the Art Museum.  It was totally amazing, and it turns out the archeological treasures were from the same region of China in which our grandson L was born.  J said they would go there as a family one day.    I did do an interview with each of the kids while they were here.  These are some of the things they had to say as they’re nearing age ten.

Love,

Dave

INTERVIEW WITH OUR GRANDDAUGHTER V (age 9.8):  

• What is one of your earliest memories as a little child?   Walking up to a man who was sleeping on the side of the road and asking him why he was sleeping there.  
• If you could only eat one thing for a week, what would it be?  Mashed potatoes.  
• What is a food that makes you want to throw up?  Beets. 
• Where would you like to visit someday (that you’ve never been)?  Hawaii. 
• What is one of your best talents?  Art.  
• One word to describe you would be ___?  Loving.  
• Would you say you are more serious or more silly?  Silly.   
• Are you more good-looking or more intelligent?  (pause)  It’s a tie. 
• More brave or more timid?  Brave. 
• More artistic or more athletic?  Artistic.  
• More quiet or more talkative?  (laughs) Talkative.      
• If you could change one thing about yourself, what it would be?  Be better at spelling.  
• What do you think you will be doing ten years from now?  I’ll be 19.  In College.  Where?  I don’t know, but based on a farm and take care of animals.  
• What is something that scares you?  Being alone in the dark.  
• Would you rather give up TV, chocolate, or friends?  (pause)  Chocolate.  
• If you could be anyone in the world for a day, who would it be and why?  My best friend Chelsea.  
• What is something your mom always says to you?  This ain’t my first rodeo.  
• What is something your dad always says to you?   Hurry up.  
• What do you think your parents are too strict about?  Not letting me have a YouTube channel.  
• What is something that makes you sad?  Animal shelters that kill animals if they’re not adopted.  
• Do you like:  
• Horror movies?  Yes.
• Art museums.  Not really.  
• Going to the dentist?  Yes. 
• Flying in airplanes?  Yes.  If it is more than a one plane flight, No. 
• Doing math?  No. 
• Watching sports on TV?  Not really.  
• Quiz shows?  Yes.
• Skateboarding?  Like to watch, like my cousin Ben.      
• Walking the dog?  Not really.  
• Which would you like most?:  To have lots of friends; to make lots of money; to help homeless people; to star in a Broadway show?  Help homeless people.  
• What animal are you most like?  A dolphin.  
• What do you like to do for fun?  Draw.  
• What do you love most about your brother?  He’s funny.  
• What is one word to describe Nana?  Loving 
• Which do you value most?  Kindness, being smart, being a good athlete, being a leader?  Kindness.  
• How many pets do you have?  Seven.  2 dogs, 1 cat, 4 quail.  
• What are the quails’ names?    Dolly, Anjelica, Eliza, Peggy.  
• If you had 3 wishes, what would they be?   Have all the pets in the world.  Become a teacher.  Always be friends with my best friend.  
• What do you think makes for a happy life?  Pets.

INTERVIEW WITH OUR GRANDSON L (age 9.8):

• What is one of your earliest memories as a little child?  My first word — “mine”. 
• Which would you like most?:  To have lots of friends; to make lots of money; to help children and poor people; to star in a Broadway show?  To have lots of friends.  
• Would you say you are more serious or more silly?  Silly.   
• Are you more good-looking or more intelligent?  Intelligent.  
• More brave or more timid?  Timid.  
• More artistic or more athletic?  Athletic.  
• More quiet or more talkative?  Talkative.    
• Do you like:  
• Horror movies?  No.
• Art museums.  Kind of.    
• Going to the dentist?  No. 
• Flying in airplanes?  Yes.  
• Doing math?  Yes.  
• Watching sports on TV?  Yes.  
• Quiz shows?  Yes.   
• Skateboarding?  No. 
• Walking the dog?  No.   
• If you could only eat one thing for a week, what would it be? Noodles. 
• What is one of your best talents?  Building legos. 
• What is your favorite thing about school?  Math. 
• What is the most difficult thing?  Grammar.  
• How would you describe yourself as a student?  Good.  
• Who is someone that you miss?  Cody, my cat.  
• One word to describe you would be ___?  Smart.  
• What do you love most about your sister?  She’s funny.  
• What do you think you will be doing ten years from now?  Be driving.  Be living alone?
• Will you be married?  No.
• Will you have a job?  Somebody at a cafe.  
• If you could have one superpower, what would it be?  Walk through walls.  
• If you could be anyone in the world for a day, who would it be and why?  Me.  Why is that?  Because I like me.  
• What’s the hardest thing about being a kid?  You can’t make your own decisions.  
• What is something your mom always says to you?  Don’t hurt your sister.  
• What is something your dad always says to you?  What’s up?  
• What is a food that makes you want to throw up?  Broccoli.  And mushrooms.  
• What is something that makes you sad?  Thinking of when I die.  
• What do you value most?  Kindness, being smart, being a good athlete, being a leader.  Kindness.  
• If you had 3 wishes, what would they be?   To live in a bigger house.  Have kids.  To be rich.   
• What do you think makes for a happy life?  Friends and family.