Last week, some folks were in town visiting, and wanted to have dinner. A flurry of phone calls ensued; dinner was set, and reservations were secured.
Several hours before the dinner, a nephew was tracked down by the visiting party and asked to join us. Which meant we were squarely in charge of rearranging the event, as well as being responsible for the nephew, a generally sweet but absent minded individual. Shall we proceed with our story?
Since arranging this whole thing was like being on a game show, I decided we’ll play CONCENTRATION, because that’s a show about MATCHING AND PUZZLES, and most reminiscent of the evening.
Having trouble with this? Let me explain. You see, it took approximately 8 phone calls to coordinate the dinner. The land line next to the cell phone represents US, in that our nephew couldn’t remember our phone number, so he had to call his aunt, who had to call us, so she could relay our address (which he had forgotten) so he could plug that information into his GPS, and God help me, make it to the house. The 9th call represents the newly arranged dinner reservation.
Still with me?
So the dear nephew arrives, but he doesn’t have a coat, because hey, it’s ONLY FEBRUARY IN BOSTON! And he’ll be fine. In the meantime, he remembered his Justin Timberlake pork pie hat, because he thought that would provide the most needed warmth and protection. The boat shoes are what he almost left the house without, until I reminded him they would help out across snow covered cobblestone streets.
Lastly, we have a successful conclusion of dinner, and a half hour wait for pastry in the arctic wind.
And a delightful evening was had, even if I don’t understand teenagers and how they actually survive. What would they do without texting, cellphones, and GPS? Could they read a map or a road sign? And what is it with the coat thing and not wearing them?
To cap the evening off, he thanked us and told us he would say hi to Mama Bear and Papa Bear. I DID figure out he meant his parents. But does anyone else but me think we need some Rosetta Stone software, the teen speak language edition?
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my! I remember the days. We had rules, though. When talking to us, they were never allowed to say “dude” or “hunh” or “nuthin”. With just those three words out of the way, it was a little easier to carry on a conversation. Of course, mine were all teenagers before cellphones and GPS (man! I’m old!).
I must admit, I do love sitting back and watching others interact with teenagers.
I have one of these – although not quite the same……….I also know this “dude” – he’s a good kid – just a little lost is all! They’re all very much the same!
Teens live in their own bubbleworld…God knows what’s in their heads…One thing you can be sure of – He ate like a king and was happy you invited him…they can always be reached through their stomachs!!! As far as the coat thing goes, today at the local Post Office, young people were observed in shorts – this seems to the de rigor outfit when the temps are below freezing – just so you know, it is important to appear not to be fazed by the weather/climate/time of year/location of your body in relation to temperature….it is important to be coooool.
And they cant tell time without a digital clock/watch. I wont even go there with the ability to count change.
Or tying shoes.
My kids tried going out without coats in Alaska in the wintertime when their hormones were in full spate! Teen brains are like computers on defrag…they look like operative units, but you absolutely cannot expect them to operate. The defrag takes about 15 to 18 years in the twenty-first century. Thanks, this was a fun break from reading about Democrats dissing their own party while Republicans diss us, too.
UGH. I have two step sons I have seen through the teen years, but thank all that is holy they have never lived with us. Not only do they resist wearing coats, the one insists on wearing clothing that is so shredded most homeless people would throw them out. I don’t get it. I am not keen to get to the teen years with my son, who is only 3.