FINLEIGH

Finleigh is three-and-half –years old. Finleigh had her first sleep over last night. Her

mother our daughter Sarah was trying to be very brave, but she was a wreck. It was

the first time Finleigh did not sleep where ever Sarah slept.

We heard Finleigh was very excited. After all she had been invited to sleep over

Christopher’s  house. Christopher is a little older than Finleigh. He is also Erica’s

son. Erica is the founder and head of the special school Finleigh has been attending

since she was about one year old . I have observed various “classes” at this school

and I have observed Christopher. Christopher is a take-charge guy. Christopher

watches all the kids. It pays to be on Christopher’s good side. I call Christopher

the Godfather. Finleigh is on Christopher’s good side. Finleigh likes Christopher

a lot. I believe she also respects Christopher.

However, sometimes things happen that are somewhat disappointing even to three-

and-half-year-olds. Somehow, Finleigh found out that as she would be leaving the

next morning , Maia, a female classmate of theirs would be entering  Christopher’s

 house for her sleep over. I could only think some guys start very early.

Finleigh is three-and half-years-old. I believe she has more air miles than most

grown-ups. Finleigh lives in Los Angeles with her mother Sarah her father

Paul and her dog Stanley. Paul and Sarah are both from Boston. Finleigh gets to

come to Boston a lot. Paul’s uncle and aunt live in Hawaii and now Paul’s sister

lives in Hawaii. Finleigh has been to Hawaii a lot. Two years ago we celebrated

Sarah’s birthday in Del Ray, Florida where Dana’s mother lives. Finleigh helped

celebrate her mother’s birthday in Florida with us. This kid has been around!

Finleigh and I love to play games. Mostly games we make up. I throw Finleigh

kisses, and as soon as I tell Finleigh where the kiss landed, she finds my kiss and

with a huge smile wipes it off and throws it right back to me. The last time as

Finleigh was strapped into her car seat, I threw her a kiss,but didn’t tell her where it

 landed. Sarah yelled out from the front seat, “Tell her where it landed dad.” Even

“make believe” becomes real with my kids.

Finleigh is very, very loyal. When Finleigh was just learning to walk at about sixteen

months, Dana and I were visiting them in Los Angeles. After lunch in a nearby

restaurant, Dana stopped to buy flowers for their house in a shop next to the

restaurant. Sarah said she would go ahead since Finleigh was such a slow walker.

Finleigh would not take a step until Dana, Finleigh’s  Bubie emerged from the flower

shop.

Finleigh has a very long memory. When Finleigh and Sarah came to visit in Florida,

I picked them up at the airport. On the way back to my mother in law’s house, I got

terribly lost. I made an announcement that we were lost. Almost one year later,

Finleigh and Sarah were driving to a new place and Sarah got lost. She mentioned

this to Finleigh and Finleigh said just like papa. Finleigh use to call me papa now

she calls me granpa.  I guess I’ve grown up.

We all love to skype. Finleigh is very excited when we skype. Usually after a few

minutes Finleigh runs off. Finleigh very rarely walks now,she mostly runs.

In a few seconds, she reappears usually with a book. Finleigh and her mom hold

up the book and Dana and I try to read it.

Finleigh came to Boston recently and as we all walked towards Sarah’s

 car, Finleigh looked up at the magnificent pine tree that shelters our house and said

“I love you two guys as high as the top of the tree.”

Finleigh Bell Sarkis is three-and-a-half.