Activity #21

OBLIVIOUS?! NOT AT ALL...Hayden's spirit is relentless. She is a bundle of energy with a dash of what my elders referred to as "piss and vinegar". She never stops with her questions, especially pertaining to food that she wants to eat but is being denied. I say that she acts oblivious to her looming health situation, because she continues to be exactly as I described. But, at the same time, she has the astute and keen observations and comments of a Yale professor. She asks questions and responds in ways that continue to amaze, entertain and delight us.

The recipient of these gestures is her ever loving, tirelessly giving, and amazingly empathetic brother-Spencer. Spencer is 15 years old, and Hayden is 12. This combination makes for your typical preteen to teen sibling interaction. It is sometimes sweet, but most of the time antagonistic. There is nothing different that goes on between them, then that which is going on in most households across the world. Big brother picks on little sister, and little sister worships and hates big brother simultaneously. I know this sounds impossible, yet if you have ever had a sibling, you understand perfectly the paradox.

The best way to bring this scenario to life, is the most recent example of their interactions. If you are looking for politically correct phrases or acceptable descriptions, this blog is not for you. You have been fairly warned:

A typical Saturday for Hayden involves hours of play with her best friend Rachel Wick. Rachel lives 2 houses down from Hayden, on a happy little cul-de-sac in Carmichael. When Rachel is otherwise engaged, and unavailable for such, we all suffer! None more than her immediate family. This past Saturday was no different. As her mother said, in nice terms, Hayden was being a "pill" because Rachel couldn't play with her. The doorbell  rang, and Hayden thought that this marked the end of her tragedy because Rachel had come to play. Much to her dismay, when she opened the door, it was her brother Spencer who had forgotten his key. He was met with Hayden's disapproving glare, and these loving words--"it's just the brat!", SLAM! Spencer then re-opened the door to come in and countered her not so kind words with "I love you too, Hayden!". Well, not to be outdone, Hayden replied with her favorite comeback-"Shut up Fagot!". (I warned you.... Yes we discourage the use of this word constantly, and as a disclaimer we don't approve of it as a whole. As in most cases, that doesn't seem to matter when Hayden is in one of her moods.) So very disappointed, Hayden stomped up to her room in tears, with every stomp, the "unmentionable" word being reiterated!

What's a brother to do? What he usually does. Laughs, shakes his head, and continues on with his life. Despite his own lack of modesty at times, Spencer is amazing. He loves Hayden, and has been her comfort, protection, love and  thorn in her side. Just as it should be. Here's to you Spencer! Keep up the good work!