Opa's in town, part II

One of my traditions with my grandfather was to go with him to get a haircut (and then to Cafe Kraemer for cake, coffee (for him), and a coke (for me)). So it was wonderful when Palomi insisted on having her haircut with her Opa.

Opa's in town!

Phone call with Oma and Opa

For Palomi, telephones without video are outdated technology. Nonetheless, family gets the full Palomi clown performance.

Opa's First Visit to the Steam Trains

Great fun with Opa

Yes, she wet her pants, she was laughing so much.

Opa's here!

Tilden Carousel

Family Pics by Palomi

Admiring the Christmas Tree with Opa

Opa Visit!

What could be better?



And who better to answer that most popular question, "why?"

Webcamming from Palomi's Point of View

Pics by Palomi, part II

Breakfast Conversation

The second half of the video could use some explaining. Without the ability to lactate, I got used to being second fiddle to Mama very early on. After more than two years, things had evened out a lot, but there were still many areas where I was a distant second choice to Mama. One of the more regular reminders of my second-class status came every other evening. The response to "Who's doing night-night?" was sheer joy when the answer was "Mama" and bitter, sometimes tearful, disappointment when it was "Papa." One evening I had enough! As a true American, I decided that I need some spin, some dressing up of the message, an advertising campaign. The inspiration came from a most unlikely place - the verse in Raffi's version of "If you're happy and you know it", "if you're beautiful and you know it, shout Hurray!", which Palomi loved.

That evening "Who's doing night-night?" had a new answer. No longer would a simple "Papa" send Palomi reeling into unhappiness. The new answer was "PAPA! HURRAY!", said with more joyous optimism than any Madison Avenue shill could muster. This was a momentous sales job - Oh my god! Wow! You've won first place in the night-night competition! Here's Ed McMahon to tell you what you've won! - that's what I packed into those two words ("Hurray" morphed into "Juchheirassa" in my ongoing attempt to speak German with Palomi).

It worked. "got milk?" and Cabbage Patch Doll mania rolled into one. My enthusiasm seeped into her. Night-night with Papa became an event. It wasn't night-night with Mama, but it had its own appeal. Or maybe Palomi just loves to watch her Dad act funny.

Opa's in town!

Going to Rivoli to Celebrate!