be a great aunt

On Saturday, I met my sister and the kids at the movie theater for the early show – we saw MJ’s “This is it”. I paid for the kids and my sister paid for their drinks -she packed little baggies of Halloween candy for them – she’s so smart!

The movie was documentary-style, filmed rehearsals and interviews. The dancers he picked for the show were amazing: definitely talented but talk about washboard abs!

The music was great – how could it not be? Beat It, Billy Jean, Thriller, old Jackson 5 tunes…my niece and I were dancing in our seats.

It was interesting to see how shows are put together. The technology, the number of people involved, the rehearsals. My nephew seemed to enjoy this.

I enjoyed the film but it was also sad. Knowing he died just days after some of this was filmed, knowing that what would have been an amazing concert tour would never happen. My niece and nephew seemed to enjoy the movie although it was a little long (2 hours).

On the way home, I showed them the Blue Tooth installed in my new car and let them call a few people. I think they enjoyed that more than the movie! Go figure – I could’ve saved $30 and just driven around letting them make phone calls!

Tomorrow my sister and I are going to take the kids to the movies. We’d planned to see “Where the Wild Things Are” but the kids really want to see the MJ movie. So…that’s what we’re going to do.

With so many positive reviews of “Where the Wild Things Are” from 43T’ers, and because I never read the book, I thought it would be great to take the kids to see it.

I emailed my sister to say I’d like to plan a movie-date with the kids – both or either one. She said she needs to check their “social calendar”.

Geez – even Aunts have to wait their turn!

to inform me that he is FINALLY allowed to ride shot-gun when we go out. He’s now more than 80 lbs and taller than 4’9”.

My response: “It’s about time. How old are you now…20?” (He’s 12).
His response: “MOM!!! Aunt Fran’s being mean!”

Sure, kid, that’ll get you into my car….

In the last 2-3 months, I’ve had a few “play-dates” with the kids, individually and together. The last was about 2 weeks ago.
My sis and bro-in-law went to a fancy wedding so I took the kids for a few hours (although I asked them to get a real sitter for the late evening so I didn’t have to hang while the kids slept).
We didn’t do anything special – window shopping in Game Stop so my nephew could drool over the electronics he doesn’t have was a highlight (lol!)but we had a good time just the same.
I guess that’s the real benefit of this goal. I don’t have to do anything special. I don’t have to entertain them. Just spending time doing ordinary things is fine. Hopefully, those are the times they’ll remember most. But…I’d better do something spectacular next time, just in case…..

Tomorrow 3/21 is my nephew’s 12th birthday.

My sister figured he was old enough to decide what he wanted to do on his birthday. Answer? He wants to go to the movies. My sister said OK but he had to limit how many kids because of the expense.

His choice? Just me.

So tomorrow I have a date. My sister told me he wouldn’t be a cheap date – to expect that he’d want popcorn and soda and who knows what else.

My response? Whatever he wants, it’s his.

A few months ago when my nephew came food shopping with me, I bought a bottle of Newman’s Own salad dressing. He asked who Paul Newman was. (Ironically, Paul Newman passed away the next day). I told him about his charitable efforts and his movies – none of which an 11 year would have heard about. I decided he needed to a classic-movie education so for Chanukah, I bought him a DVD of “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”. I told him he couldn’t watch it without me.

This week, he’s on school break so we had our date for Weds night. We set up the movie on the big screen TV (with surround sound – too cool), sat back and watched.

You may recall it starts with a silent movie, in sepia-tones.
“Why is it quiet? Where’s the color?”
“Shhh, it’s just the beginning..”
“Why do I have to be quiet? There’s no sound..” he said.
So true, I told you he was smart.

As we watched, I told him about the old west – riding horses everywhere, travel by train, bank robbers. Of everything I told him, what did he find really cool? When they arrive in Bolivia, Sundance says he’s from New Jersey! I must admit, I always liked that too.

When it was over, he said he liked it. Hard to tell but I took his word for it. But the next day, my sister said he was online googling Butch and Sundance. OK – I guess I got through.

Next movie? Apollo 13.

My nephew got braces this week. I haven’t had a chance to see him yet but I promised my sister I’d be gentle – no “metal-mouth” comments. But I told her I’d tell him what our beloved (read:evil) older brother said to me one week before getting my braces off.

He said “You know, if you haven’t been brushing your teeth well, when the braces come off, your teeth will be black”. The terror I felt! The mega-brushing I did that last week, hoping to make up for any poor brushing over the prior year….

I can’t wait to see his face. OK, so evil is passed down to the next generation…......mwa ha ha….

Earlier this month, my sister told me she’d be travelling on business this week and would miss her son’s 6th grade band concert. I told her I’d make time to go. Her trip was cancelled so I thought I could skip it…until my nephew called to see if I’d still go. How could I not go?

I was pretty tired last night but headed over anyway. My folks were there with my niece and my sister and bro-in-law showed up later. Nice cheering section for him. Before the show, I found him sitting with “the horn section” (he plays the sax). When he saw me, his face lit up and he gave me a big hug. I was really touched by that. It’s hard enough for an almost-12 year old boy to hug you, let alone in public and in front of his friends!

The 6th grade orchestra played about 4 songs. It was so cool to see him on the stage, although hard to see him behind the stands and all of the instruments. But during 1 song, he stood up and had a solo! He did great! I was so proud of him and so glad I decided to go. I didn’t stay for the rest of the concert (different grades) but when I see him next, I’m going to ask for his autograph…he’ll love that!

I finally saw my niece and nephew yesterday to give them their Chanukah gifts. I got them a few things but I hit the bulls eye with my nephew with 1 specific gift.

He loves the Guiness Book of World Records, football (go Giants) and baseball (got Mets!). I was able to find a book that sort of combined all of that. The book lists the 50 greatest records and streaks in all sports – baseball, football, basketball, hockey, etc.

My sister called me last night to say he’d been reading it ALL afternoon. He got on the phone to “test” me.
Spencer: Hi Aunt Fran – Do you know who’s home run record Hank Aaron broke?
Me: Yep, it was Babe Ruth.
Spencer: Oh, OK, but do you know how many home runs he had to hit?
Me: Yep, I think it was 700 something…wait, 715.
Spencer: Hey, how’d you know that?
Me: Because I was not much older than you when he did it.
Spencer: Wow!

Thankfully, he did not make any age comments…he knows better…his birthday’s in 2 months!