That said, it is hard to catch up on all the missing time. So I'm just going to jump back in with an Owen story, in case you have forgotten his personality. It's an easy way to begin again.
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Owen doesn't have much of a filter when talking to others...adults, children, friend or new acquaintance. It can be funny. It can be precocious. It can be embarrassing. Sometimes all of that and more.
On a trip to Home Depot not long ago, I was trying to concentrate in the Self Checkout Lane (which, by the way, I strongly dislike at Home Depot. Grocery self checkouts are generally fine, but for some reason Home Depot is always an issue. Personally, I think their products don't lend themselves to checking out without assistance.) The point is, I was distracted by checking myself out (ha, that sounds a little funny), and Owen started to chat with the Guy Who Stands at the Desk and Watches You Struggle To Check Yourself Out Yet Usually Is Too Busy With Other People to Help You. That particular day, he was idle. Never be idle around Owen. Why didn't someone tell him that?
To set the stage, the man was tall and bearded, and probably in his mid 50s.
O: Hi! My name's Owen. I'm five.
Man: Nice to meet you, Owen.
O: Do you have a boy who is 5?
Man: No, I don't.
O: Do you have a girl who is 5?
Man: No, I don't.
O: How old are your kids?
Man: I don't have any kids.
O: What?! Do you have a family???
Man: No....I really don't have a family...
(And this is the point where I am realizing how awkward this conversation is getting, and the man is seriously looking glum. Ack! I try to grab Owen's hand to bring him over next to me, without much luck.)
O: What?!? You don't have a FAMILY??? What??? You mean you get to do whatEVER you want???! Awesome!!!!
Man: (He breaks into a smile from ear to ear, looks at me and says,) No one has ever looked at it that way before! That's right!!
Whew. Way to save that conversation. And as we walked out holding hands, with the Man waving at us like we're old friends now, Owen muttered to himself, "Man, if I didn't have a mother, I'd be able to do ANYthing..."
I told him he is out of luck there. I will be around forEVER.
