It has been awhile since I have written. My little sister Juliet was in town, and since I only see her every few years (she lives in Australia as do my other sisters and dad and stepmother), I spent as much time with her as possible. She left today, and I was sad to see her go. We all were.
It was a great week. Juliet experienced the continual insanity of herding three young kids and how plans change moment-by-moment. Tom and I were amazed by her cheerful disposition and inability to become flustered.
On the day before she left, we had plans to go into San Francisco. We were first delayed because it always takes us an extended period of time to clothe Cole and negotiate with Adeline. Once we'd finally gotten them dressed, it was time for lunch. It being a beautiful day, we enjoyed our pesto omelette outside on the deck. The kids were running and laughing... and Cole was once again naked. I sent him upstairs to dress again.
"Where's Adeline?" Someone asked and someone else answered something. "Where's Adeline?" someone else asked. "Probably up with Cole." I stomped upstairs. Cole was pulling on a red power ranger costume. "Where's Adeline?" I asked. He looked up at me trying to fit his torso through a twisted polyester ranger belt. "Where's Adeline?" he asked me. Helpful.
"She's hiding," Tom said. She's done this before. Tom sounded calm but he raced outside to the park and down the driveway. George went down to the playroom. Juliet went out front. I went back upstairs. Was she in her room? Behind the door? Cole was dressed. His blue Italian soccer shirt was on backwards with the green tag hanging out under his chin, but he was ready. "Did you find Adeline?" "No," I said and he ran downstairs and into the park. I went out front and along the road. Juliet went the opposite way along the road.
I was going to the scary place in my mind. Adeline's smart, but she's only two. What do you do when you can't find your child? You just keep looking. You must find them so you don't stop or slow. I heard Juliet's voice. I saw Adeline in her arms. Everyone needed to hug her. Cole would hug her and then step away, cocking his head, and ask, "Do you need another hug?" "Yes," she'd answer, "From you and then Georgie." The brothers took turns hugging her. Tom sat on her bed and I sat on her chair, witnessing the sweetness.
Juliet had found her down the street sitting on the side of the road with 2 different groups of adults pondering what to do. She told Juliet that she was looking for Cole. She was confused, but not crying. She was worried that Cole was lost.
When Juliet learned that Adeline and I had lice and that she too might, she laughed. Perhaps finding her niece sitting on the side of a busy road put things into perspective... maybe lice is funny... maybe she's just that awesome (she is)... All I can say is that I'm glad she's family.
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