A month or two ago as we were doing dishes, Ande was telling me about two of her friends. She said, “Did you know that ________ isn’t his mom’s favorite and she’s told him so?”
Me: “Hmmm. That’s odd. One, that he doesn’t feel the favorite and two, that the mom would even say she has favorites. Who are the favorites?”
Ande: “______ and ______ and the mom said so.”
Me: “Hmmmm” again.
Ande: “And did you know that _______ is the favorite in their family?”
Me: “Yup. That one is obvious.”
Me: “And who did you say was our favorite?”
Ande: “We’ve had this conversation before, you know that. We have all come to the conclusion that you and Dad have no favorites.”
Me: “Yeah, but when you’re with your friends sometimes you agree or say something that you don’t say at home. I just wondered what you told your friends on who-is-the-favorite at our house.”
Ande: Repeating herself, “You guys don’t have favorites.” PREGNANT pause, “However, if you do have favorites, I’d say it’s Ray.”
Oh ho, that still makes me laugh. Ray, thanks for being our favorite.
Though I have lots of favorite things about Ray, one of my favorites is his sense of curiosity. He could have written these words by Rudyard Kipling:
I keep six honest serving-men,
They taught me all I knew;
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.
~Rudyard Kipling~
I first noticed Ray’s curiosity in the questions he asked when we met. They were more than surface questions and he sincerely wanted to hear the answers. Later when riding bikes in the West and seeing history sights in the East, I noticed that Ray read every placard, sign, engraving. If there was a lid, he lifted it. If there was a hole, he looked in it. If there was a ledge, he peered over it. If Ray wants to learn something he studies it. If he wants to know how to do something he practices it. His skills and interests are wide because of that great gift of curiosity that he has.
Ray, Cali, Ande, Ty
Ray is a great blessing to many. His energy and wisdom, fueled by his curiosity, have made my life better and I love him for it. Ray really is a favorite blessing in my life.
12 comments:
Great post, Jane! You are so lucky that your children have married people that are not only a blessing to you, but are loved enough to be in the circle of favorites. What a blessing, indeed!
PS - I thought I was your favorite??
"Thanks for being our favorite, Ray" and you said you didn't have favorites...uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...
hello! I TOLD YOU SO! But if you are going to have a favorite it might as well be Ray, afterall he is my favorite brother in law.
hey ray........way to make the list......i was surprised i made it........you are great...............cal
I love these portraits of your family members! It's fun to feel the affection among all of you.
Checking in on your blog has become one of my 52 blessings.
Interesting and amusing conversation!
How funny! I love it!
Oh Mamma,
You nailed him. The best part is that he heard me laughing as I was reading it (I didn't tell him) and he came into the room to see what I was reading. He saw his picture and groaned. He then said, "I forgot to call and beg her not to put me on. I saw a little trend devolping with these '52 Blessings' and had a feeling I'd better call her. I just thought I had another week or two." He was shy and he was embarrassed... but he had the smile in his eyes. The one where you know he loved reading it, and loved that you'd remembered him. Thank you mom, for capturing SO PERFECTLY my husband's personality.
Cali
(side note: he also has to touch most of the items on the grocery store shelves, try to open closed safes, and crosses most "do not trespass" signs)
I need Rachel to find a Ray. Any of them out there?
I love that quote by Rudyard Kipling.
Ray is great! I'm so glad I was able to get to know everyone more while staying in Washington, and that Ray was able to stay a few days at the house. Glad you were put up as the blessing this week, Ray!
you have a wonderful family and I love how well you recognize all their delightful gifts!
I love this! That conversation is a keeper and well worth recording. Mostly I love the dialogue that goes on in your comments section.
Curiosity is a gift for sure. One of my favorite quotes (can't remember the author): "The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity."
Post a Comment