E-I-E-I-O
filed in Family & Life on Jan.08, 2006
Many of you married folk, I am sure, feel that they have been blessed with a “Super Spouse.” The one that knows you better than you know yourself. The one that you thank God for. Unfortunately, like all good things in our lives, we tend to take them for granted. Tend to forget how special this person really is. Tend to forget how intelligent, humorous, and creative they are and have the potential to be. But here’s the silver lining: Every so often, your spouse will reveal their specialness in such a magnificent way as to knock the wind out of you (figuratively, in most cases) and force you to remember and to realize what you’ve got.
I had one of those moments tonight. We had been visiting my sister and her family down in the Philadelphia area today for her son, Dillon’s church dedication. It was a long drive down and a long drive home (about 3 hours each way). Our 1-year old daughter, Erin, had been an angel all day long, but for some reason didn’t seem to have much of an appetite. Well, it wasn’t long before we were on the road back home that she was gonna lose it as soon as she figured out how hungry she was.
Here’s the moment…
My wife Kate, seeing the need to distract the ticking time bomb bundle of joy in the backseat as long as possible decided to sing with her. And sing she did. She started with some oldies, some fun songs, some church songs, but then something happened. She started in with Old McDonald Had A Farm. Erin has been able to sing the “E-I-E-I-O” with stunning skill for a 1-year old and so Kate decided to milk the song as much as she could. The standards came out pretty early: …had a cow …had a pig …had some chickens …had a sheep, etc., etc., etc. Now, Kate could have easily moved onto another song once the standard farm animals that forseeably could have been stationed on Old McDonald’s HUGE farm had been sung about, but instead she kept going. And going. And going. It was easily more than 30 verses later that she began to draw some blanks and ask me for help.
I tried helping with some stellar suggestions, including …had an anteater …had an armadillo
Neither Kate nor Erin liked my suggestions very much – not sure why.
The fact that she can distract our cranky 1-year old for over an hour with simple songs amazes me and is a testament to her maternal love. It’s not that big of a deal in the big picture of things, but it reminded me how much I love my wife.
January 8th, 2006 on 7:42 pm
Sorry you had such a long ride home. I know how much longer it can be with a cranky child. Thanks for coming though!!
January 9th, 2006 on 6:19 am
We had a great time and so glad we could make the trip!
January 9th, 2006 on 6:29 am
All I can say to that is….AWWWWWWW. That is a truly sincere AWWW too, for many reasons. First, the obvious, in you recognition of Kate’s wonders. Second, for Erin just being so cute and a good little one and third, because you guys are just a great little family who’s love for each other is so apparent. 🙂
January 9th, 2006 on 7:32 am
Cute story, but I was distracted by this little ditty from near the top:
“It was a long drive down and a long drive home (about 3 hours each way)”
3 hours!? Long drive?! In Texas, a drive isn’t considered long unless it involves sleeping in a car and at least two stops at a QT!
Other than that, it was a cute story.
January 9th, 2006 on 7:40 am
You’ve obviously never driven 3 hours in a Honda Civic with a screaming 1-year old in the backseat.
January 9th, 2006 on 5:52 pm
Did you sing about a goat? Please tell me you didn’t forget about the goat!?
Wombats, three-toed sloths, and capibara are always a farm favorite.
January 10th, 2006 on 6:11 am
Thanks hun. I feel sorry for poor Old MacDonald – he has more of an animal compound now rather than a farm. =) And thanks for not mentioning my atrocious singing voice…
January 10th, 2006 on 4:40 pm
It’s hard to cling to my cynical nature when I read posts like that. Such a heartfelt tribute, Kenny. Although I will side with you on the anteater thing… A friend of mine just purchased a mango tree farm and promptly went out and bought 6 anteaters to take care off the (uh duh) ant problem. They are so fun to watch scurrying around the trees! So yes, some farms have anteaters! Although I’m not sure what kind of noise you would make…