This is a second summer our granddaughter Leni has stayed with us, from June 3rd to August 7th. She has managed again to turn Papou Paul into a slavish milkman, footman, bicycle trainer, and strawberry preparer. As for myself, my role remained the same as a dedicated cleaner, cook and delivery driver.
Shortly after her arrival, we quickly established a regular schedule with Leni. On weekdays, I would wake her up at 7:00 am, feed her breakfast and make her a peanut butter sandwich lunch, and then drive her to the Santa Cruz Boys and Girls Club after 8:00 am. At 5:15 pm, we or I would pick her up at the Louden Nelson Park, and then go home to have our dinner. Before going to bed at 9:00 pm, Leni would take a shower, sit down to have her bowl of strawberry laced with whip-cream, floss and brush teeth supervised by Paul, and then read one to three chapters from Lauren Tarshis' I survived series.
On the weekend, she would wake up still at 7:00 am, but keep to herself for a couple of hours before rousing one of us. She would like to go the Chanticleer Leo's Haven and then the dog park. Prior to her departure, she apparently outgrew the children park, but dogs remained her constant interest.
Unlike in the previous summer, Leni has grown into a more mature student. She is able to listen and learn. She has obtained her Advanced Swimming Certificate issued by the Boys and Girls Club; learned to ride her bike with Coach Papou. To our great delight and surprise, she actually read 11 books this summer, of which eight were from Tarshis' series. By the end of her stay, Leni was duly rewarded with gift books, certificates and Penny ice-cream coupon given by the Summer Reading Program of Santa Cruz Public Libraries (SCPL). The only snag is that she did not really enjoy the library ice-cream, for the coupon was run out last Wednesday when she signed off. At the time of this writing, the coupon in question is still in the mail via SCPL's office mail.
While in Santa Cruz, Leni might feel bored, as she has often claimed, but by no means idle. She went to the Boardwalk twice, once for bowling, and then other riding rollercoasters last Thursday, totally exhausted and excited. She strolled along the West Cliff and East Cliff with the Municipal Wharf in between. She took the water taxi in the Santa Cruz Harbor, and revisited Santa Cruz Natural Museum, Monterey Bay Sanctuary Exploration Center, and finally Monterey Aquarium!
Reunited with her parents and little brother, Leni is now home, leaving behind her two slaves bemoaning and reminiscent of a fast and busy summer just gone by. In our quiet house, the doting Papou especially misses her laughter, singing, dance, and intense attitude toward art creations. Paul and I also find ourselves adaptive and flexible to her whims and whimsical ideas by not taking offence, when she wanted her Mommy and home on Liberty Drive. What a magic girl in a magical summer!
