Monday, September 6, 2010

Best of Luck, Phinnaeus and Marigold...!

Tomorrow Marigold and Phinnaeus head back to school, after their summer break. For Phinnaeus it will be a new adventure in a new school.  We all remember high school, and the way we picked our way through the land mines for the first few weeks, until we found our footing.  It can be a frightening experience.  High school is where we learn what people can really be like -- good and bad. George Clooney gave a speech in Up in the Air where he said. “Make no mistake, your relationships are the heaviest components in your life. All those negotiations and arguments and secrets, the compromises. The slower we move the faster we die. Make no mistake, moving is living. Some animals were meant to carry each other to live symbiotically over a lifetime. Star-crossed lovers, monogamous swans. We are not swans. We are sharks.” That is a good point to remember in the workplace too. I work with some fabulous people, but swimming in amongst them is a Great White shark, whose charming smile hides razor-sharp teeth. But, I think Phinnaeus will be fine wherever he goes. He's a lovely young man with a great sense of humour and a kind soul.  He's very intelligent, and lately he has taken up the hobby of gourmet cooking, and has been cooking his way through Julia Child's cookbook, much to everyone's delight.  Phinnaeus is a good kid, and he is what folks would call a decent person.

Both Phinnaeus and Marigold have a good centre.  They're well brought up kids, and very easy to be around.  Marigold is a hoot, and she reminds me so much of my mother.  Marigold is extremely pretty, quick-witted and intelligent.  She has an innate sense of elegance and grace.  One day she and I were riding on the bus, and she was sitting just so, with her ankles crossed -- very ladylike.  I noticed all the other little girls on the bus watching Marigold, and one by one they all sat up straight, and crossed their ankles just the way Marigold did.  She was completely oblivious to it all, and I chuckled.  Marigold definitely has a sense of wit.  The last time she visited me, she had a bit of a tummy ache, so I bought her some ginger ale, thinking it might help.  A while later I asked her how she was feeling, and she looked at me with a twinkle in her eye and said, "Oh, I'm much better now.  I had a good f*rt, and the tummy ache is gone."  I nearly fell off my chair.  It was not something I would have expected her to say, and for just an instant I had a flash of my mother.

Each new chapter of life can be a bit scary, but exciting at the same time.  So many new adventures await...  Have lots of fun, Phinnaeus and Marigold...!

Love, Oma
XOXOXO

20 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

Minefields indeed, but some of the mines produce the most lovely effects in the end. Good luck to both.

Single and Sane said...

They both sound very grounded, and that's the biggest secret to escaping those minefields unscathed. Best wishes for Phinnaeus and Marigold as they begin a new year!

Paula Slade said...

Best wishes for the new school year to Phinnaeus and Marigold. You've got two wonderful grandchildren Jo.

DJan said...

Wow, a gourmet cook! And a girl who tells it like it is! They will be fine. Nice post and a lovely tribute to two beautiful people.

TheChicGeek said...

Ahhh, you are truly blessed, Jo, and Phinnaeus and Marigold are so lucky to have you as their Grandma :)
Here's to steering clear of sharks too!
Hugs :))
Kelly

Jeannette StG said...

Endearing characteristics of these two that only a grandmother can write LOL! But, Jo, you call yourself, "Oma"? Do you have Dutch or German roots?
When I became an...I decided I wanted to be called Nana, for with "Oma" I can't shake the picture of a granny of the "Hillbillies" series. Bad enough that I'm old and little, but that just became a little too close for comfort for me!

Rosaria Williams said...

Lovely children, with great sense of self. They'll do just fine.

heartinsanfrancisco said...

They are both such lovely children, and well on their way to becoming the very finest adults. I am enjoying a mental image of Marigold farting with her ankles crossed in a most ladylike way.

heartinsanfrancisco said...

I had two grandmothers, Grandma (father's mother) and Nana (mother's.) I decided long ago that I shall be known to my grandchildren as Nana, if only they would finally appear.

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

What a great post Jo. So glad I was able to come by and read this.
You have two beautiful grandkids that will do good even if there are those darn landminds.
And yes there are sharks every where you work.
Take care
Love
Maggie

Whitney Lee said...

They both sound lovely, and quite grounded. I'm sure they will be just fine no matter what life hands them.

My daughter starts school (pre school) for the very first time tomorrow. She is really excited!

TC said...

They sound a bit like their grandma? My granddaughter age 9 quizzed me today on what happened to my snack cabinet. I said Grandpa has high blood sugar so we did away with the Little Debbies, she turned around, looked @ me and said you know you DO STILL have grandchildren you know. touche`

Alicia said...

What a cute story about Marigold! I needed a laugh before I head off to bed tonight. Phinnaeus is going to be fine. By then end of the week he'll be an old pro at high school.

How fun for you to be such a big part of their lives.

Firefly the Travel Guy said...

Its always weird when I hear that your schoolyear starts in the middle of the year. Our's run along with calender years and start in January after our summer holidays.

heiresschild said...

my, how they've both grown. high school? hard to believe he's there already. i've always loved your stories about them.

wow! it's a whole new group of bloggers here. i've been away much too long.

RiverPoet said...

LOL!!! Marigold sounds like my Stephanie. Isn't it funny, though, how kids can remind you of ancestors that perhaps they never met? It's interesting the way in which genes work to produce not only looks but personality traits, as well.

Best of luck to the kids as they head off to school.

D

Katy said...

Jo- Thank you for sharing these wonderful stories. I'm not sure one can teach a person to have strong center, but you are right that its what will carry them far in life.

I'm always excited for my daughter when a new school year starts. I hope they love the new year!

Sniffles and Smiles said...

I love Marigold!!! She's my kinda gal!!! And Phineas sounds like a fine young man!!! What a joy they must be in your life!! I loved reading this! You brought me big smiles today! ~Janine XO

Cloudia said...

What a lovely post. What lovely humans. My heart beats a bit happier remembering that I share the world with such (as you, JO)




Aloha from Waikiki

Comfort Spiral

Jo said...

Thank you, everyone, for your lovely comments. Phinnaeus and Marigold are indeed unique, and quite special. :-)