Yesterday, I was bored with packing and being alone all day, so I began looking for something to do.
I noticed on a friend's "wall" that they were headed over to Laurel Tavern for dinner. Laurel Tavern is a new spot in my neighborhood that has become very popular, very quickly. I had been invited along with this old group of friends a week prior, so I decided I could invite myself along.
Katy, who I contacted last night said to keep it as a surprise, and I walked in and surprised my old friends.
Kaye, Shirley, and Katy were all moms in the neighborhood when I worked for Kaye as her nanny for sweet Henry. I loved my 2 years working for them. Her house is so amazingly cute and Henry is too.
It was 2002 when I had really "had it" with working with emotionally disturbed kids at the Special Ed class at Burbank High. I've found I can handle a lot, but God made me too sensitive and intuitive to handle "F U" 10 times an hour. Generally speaking ED boys with anger managment problems like to throw desks and tell their teachers "FU" when the say "knock it off". I was good at the job, but the job wasn't good for me.
Through a friend, I found out about a family in Studio City who needed an afterschool nanny. I was excited and went over to meet Kaye. Kaye was recently divorced and doing a great job at trying to give Henry a stable and wonderful place to grow up. Henry...I fell in love with at first sight. He was (and is) adorable. His thick head of dark brown wavy hair matched to his fair skin and big brown eyes. I had the amazing gift of getting to walk Henry home from school and help create friendships and memories for his Kindergarten and 1st grade years. We collected rocks, went to pumpkin patches, had more "play dates" than I can remember, went to Karate, read books, rode bikes, and made pancakes on days without school.
It was an amazing experience. I enjoyed it all so much.
We lost touch over the last 6 years...and so last night...I got to sit with him on the same couch we read Alice in Wonderland on and the same house I did so much of life in for 2 years. He's in 7th grade now and plays the guitar. He wailed some awesome riffs and sang "sweet home alabama" with all his heart for me. He kept hugging me and I kept reminding him of all the fun we had...like memories spilling out of my heart.
To give you an idea of the kind of person Henry is, when he was in 1st grade at soccer practice, the coach was going around helping the kids get to know each other. He said "tell us your name and your favorite food" to which most of the kids said "pizza, lucky charms, and ice cream" Henry answered in true form: "Rigatoni with butter and cheese at Maria's Italian Kitchen"
yup.
That's Henry. I can tell he is still this wonderful and unique...and decisive about the things he likes in the world.
Kaye now has an amazing boyfriend, Jerry, I liked him instantly. It seems we even went to the same church, Bel Air Presbyterian years ago. The house feels full of joy and fun. I was so excited to return there.
God is so rich with surprises for us. What a treat. I know I will get to share many more sweet moments with my old friends watching their families grow up.
