The Circle Game

So every parent of a kid post-high school has these Joni Mitchell moments where we hum the Circle Game. How did this kid who came out of me looking like a rubber chicken that I breast fed until he plumped up, well, nineteen? 

My college sophomore came home for Thanksgiving and I actually saw him.  Well, I fed him. I did get him to do a few chores including setting up the Christmas train garden.  Eli liked trains since he was a toddler and a number of years ago my father bought him a Lionel set. They worked on it together and it lived set-up year-round in my then un-finished basement for a number of years.  A less than stellar environment given there was no ceiling, walls or flooring.  But still we would make everyone who came over during the holidays make the trek down to see the garden which I had (mostly) willingly donated my collection of Christmas houses that had grown too big for the top of the piano.

Two years ago my Dad was failing and I knew he wouldn’t be able to make it down my basement stairs so we brought the garden upstairs including the uber heavy 4x4 stands he made.  My Dad never made it over that Christmas and died the following spring.  Last year I wasn’t up for doing much for Christmas and we didn’t set up the train garden. 

This year, I am decorating (or as I like to say, putting out the Christmas crap). Eli said the tracks needed cleaning and he needed the cleaning stuff that one can buy at “Why Pay Less” Stebbins Anderson. 

Before he left to go back to school this morning, he and I headed out to Stebbins Anderson but first we had breakfast at Atwaters because he was starving. Holy cow, can this kid put away the food. I don’t mind. Feeding him is one of the few things I have left to do.  There was a couple near us and it was clearly a date, maybe a first date. Older couple. Oh hell, probably my age. The woman never shut up and it was all about her elderly parents and their health failings and assisted living and I could have told the story. I really didn’t need to hear this whole saga given the sentimentality I have chosen to give the train garden.  (Note to self, if you have another date, leave those stories for your friends.) I pointed it out to Eli and how the guy is probably saying inside … just eat your food.  Eli then says, you know how you don’t notice something and then when you do, you can’t not pay attention?  Thanks for pointing that out.  My pleasure. Why should I suffer alone?  Isn’t that one of the reasons we have kids?

                                                    

Stebbins didn’t have an overpriced track cleaning kit and I figured we could just google a home-made remedy so we went to check out the train display in the middle of the mall.  I have been bringing my kids to see this display since well, before they could walk. It was pretty crowded with lots of little ones. One mom and dad were pointing things out to their kids and the kids were so excited.  She looked at me and smiled and I had to say … one day they are like that and the next moment they are 19 and I pointed to Eli.  Yep, cue up the Circle Game.

Eli said he was ready to go. Then he asked if I miss this and I said you mean little kids and he nodded.  I said, yes. Until they start to cry.  As he loaded his clean laundry and groceries in to his car, I handed him a few bucks.  Just in case he needs something to eat. And the seasons they go round and round.