Ms. Rory in the Heart of Texas

Boys and girls are SOOO different.

We saw it in full effect a couple of weeks ago when we had the opportunity to go to SF and visit our close friends, Team Yeager. If you think it’s crazy in your household, try 3 boys under the age of 5. Two words:Totally. Wild.   Three fun hearts full of love, but wild nonetheless. You know you are in boy-land when the three year old is fiercely protecting a WHOLE PLATEFUL of beans like a lion over its prey when jackals are approaching. There’s a reason for that, folks; he’s learned the hard way about his food getting poached right under his watch. In Drew’s words, hovering over the plate and howling “MUUHH BEEEEANNNS!!!!” means he’s all business. Marked his territory. Seriously, look at the size of that plate. He was protecting his weight in pinto beans.

For a while, Rory slipped right in with the crowd, hanging with best friend Abe like we were still running the Pinewood Greens ‘hood of Falls Church, VA. We walked around San Fran, the kids rolled deep on the trolley, and we broke bread over some In-N-Out burgers. Rach turned 29 for the third time in a row, and while the kids were tearing up the house, we made acquaintances with Don Patron Resposado. Fine fellow, that man. Throw in a brisk beach walk, a little AT&T Park and McCovey Cove, and you have a perfect long weekend in the Bay Area.

However, when it came time to leave, the emo from Rory came strong and Abe, well Abe was a boy.

Actual scene (roughly transcribed) in the backseat of the Sienna, the limo of minivans:

Rory: I love Abe, Drew and Ben. But Abe, I love you best. (Rests her head on his shoulder, across carseats)

Abe: (awkward, mumbling acknowledgement) Me best. (Trying to figure out what in the world just happened. Vigorously processing, and then…. silence, staring out the window, trying not to make eye contact.)

And that was it. No follow-up attempt to save the conversation. Just let it drop.

Another actual conversation (one way):

Rory: Abe, I won’t forget you. Drew, I won’t forget you. And I won’t forget you, Baby Ben. But MOST of all, I won’t forget you, Abe!

Abe: (Silence, staring out the window, even more nervous now, still trying not to make eye contact.)

Just protect your beans, boys. Play with fire trucks, wrestle each other until you are blue in the face, and protect your beans.