Things I Learned Saturday

Lunch with my nephew today was very informative. There were things we talked about, and things we didn't.

He loves his new job! He's a "program manager" at the local elementary school, taking care of students before and after school. The hours are 6:45 to 8:30 AM and then 3:00 to 6:00 PM. He gives the kids their morning and after-school snacks, oversees homework, and makes sure they get exercise, either in the gym or (weather permitting) on the playground. His morning kids are different from his afternoon kids, except for one little boy, who has become his favorite. That kid is focused on Spanish as a second language and his homework is a challenge, since my nephew can't speak a syllable of it. He cheats by going into the other room to review the homework and check Google Translate. He's so fond of the boy but is sorry that he's at school from 6:45 to 6:00.

By participating in this program he is earning credits he needs to get into this teacher training program. I'm glad he likes working with little ones because I think he'd be very good at it, though he says his focus is still on teaching high school. 

He uses that 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM window to work on content to submit to the baseball website. This job is not as satisfying as his original writing job was. There is so much more competition for space and his work often doesn't get posted. If he doesn't get posted, he doesn't get paid. With the start of the 2027 baseball season in serious doubt, it's unlikely that this situation will improve. So he is transitioning to teaching, and he's good with it.

But that doesn't stop us from talking baseball. And PCA as NL MVP by a unanimous vote! What glorious news that was. 

He's happy with Bobbie. They're more settled in as a couple and I'm so happy to see it. We talked about Christmas, which made me both happy and sad. Happy because he is getting to know Bobbie's family in Louisville and will be spending Christmas with them. Sad because it means he won't be spending Christmas with me. We're going to celebrate – just him, Bobbie and me – on December 19. 

Bobbie's influence is obvious. This is what we didn't talk about, but it made me happy nevertheless:  My nephew has started shaving his head. It looks good! He began losing his hair when he went away to college and it's caused him considerable concern and embarrassment. Now he's turned his shame into a fashion statement and it made me so happy to see him confidently stride into the diner without a baseball cap. 

He tells me he loves me all the time whenever we part now. Come to think of it, so does his sister/my niece. I wonder if it's because I'm getting old. Oh well, it's nice to hear.

  

Photo by Hrushi Chavhan on Unsplash