Zander Stories (circa 2000): Part I

Excerpts of emails from Joanna

Sun, 2 Jan 2000
Zander and my dad went for a horse ride. Zander was sitting behind the saddle, holding on to my dad. With all his winter clothes, he wasn’t stable, though. He slipped off and dad grabbed him but couldn't pull him back up without dropping the reigns. They were in a narrow stretch between the electric fence and the woods so that wasn't an option. He just dropped Zander gently in the snow. Zander thought it was great fun. Then my dad put Zander in the saddle by himself and led the horse home. Zander thought that was even better than landing in the snow.

Tue, 22 Feb 2000 (from Grandma W.)
Zander will be with us until Thursday. He just finished doing a pretty good job of rinsing and stacking the dishes, as I washed. Then he after he played in the water awhile, he wanted to soak his feet. (I think we did this before for some good reason). So I put the rinse pan on the floor and he sat on the stool he'd been standing on. He's been in and out of the water, covered the pan with the towel, and is now threatening to drown his socks (which he did- then put the socks back on!). Yesterday we went out to play in the snow a couple times. Since it was in the mid-40's the snow was 'raining' off the roof. Of course, he stood in it and 'took a shower'.

Fri, 25 Feb 2000 (more from Grandma W.)
On Wednesday Zander went with us to West Shore Hospital while Don had his MRI (on his shoulder) He ate something for breakfast, maybe a couple Pop Tarts and orange juice. At the hospital and on the way home, he ate a bag of plain M&Ms (even tho he wanted the ones with peanuts). At Burger King he took a little time out from playing/sliding to eat a few French fries and drink his whole chocolate milkshake. (Grandpa claims I've spoiled him rotten). [Uh, gee, y'think? italics added for emphasis]
...
At Ladies Aid at Reta's he wouldn't eat anything but when we got home at 3:30 he and Grandpa ate a whole lot of frosted mini-wheats. I tried giving him some chicken corn soup (with rice and noodles) for supper, but 'no luck'. Then while I was dipping my honeyed toast (no oleo) into hot tea he was willing to eat apple slices (we were having some, too) if he got a short glass with water so he could dip his apple into it. He had fun dropping them in and reaching into the water to get them out. He did eat most of an apple. He really wanted some chocolate milk with his supper, but I told him he'd had enough chocolate in the M&Ms.
...
Thursday morning he did a good job eating cheerios and blueberries with a little milk (we ran out before Don got his), but only because I fed him the last half. He eats pretty good if fed. Otherwise he's more likely to want to play with his food. He drank a bottle of orange juice on his way home.

Mon, 28 Feb 2000 (more from Grandma W.)
While we were walking the halls at West Shore Hospital, waiting for Don during his MRI, Zander and I came upon the 'chapel/mediation' room next to the Emergency Entrance. We went in and he saw the small kneeling bench and the cross on the wall above it. After examining the bench, raising and lowering it a time or two, he stood up on it and said "I'm the man who makes the speech." Then he proceeded to talk a little (quite short). Then he 'sang' - with lively movements - one of Veggie Tale songs. After that he said "God is great, God is good, and we thank him for our food. Amen" and hopped down.

Tue, 29 Feb 2000
> Speaking of amazing Zander stories, did Dad tell you
> about when they were going to get hay, and Zander said
> "Uncle Fitz has a truck just like this!" I don't know
> when the last time he would have seen it, but I'm sure
> it was a long time ago.

Erica sent this to me today. My dad bought Fitz's truck a couple of months ago....