You've Got Mail

The other day Roel asked me out of the blue what did I think his cousin, Garett, (also 4.5 but living in Philly) was going to be when he grew up. I gave him my guess and then suggested we send an email to Garett to ask him. Sure, but what is email? And so begins the litany of questions that these days accompanies even the most mundane experience (well, mundane by an old grey mare's perspective--positively scintillating by a budding school-ager's.)

Explaining email to a precocious 4.5 year old seemed easy. I told him it was just like sending a letter but instead of putting a stamp on it and dropping it in the blue box on the corner, we just use our computer and then the other person receives it on her/his computer. I'm practically mouthing "great job, Mom" to myself for providing such a fine analogy, using concrete experience that's easy to grasp and then seamlessly applying it to this abstract notion of email. Yes, yes, great job, Mom. Then came the follow up: but how does it get from our computer to theirs? Are there pipes that connect our computers? OK, no problem, I can handle this. Um, let's see, there are no pipes. Definitely no pipes. Well, the email leaves our computer and goes to another computer somehow, I think it's called a server? Then that one talks to another computer? I realized I had quickly come to the limit of my understanding (and even of my ability to bullshit which, by the way, is a greatly underutilized parenting tool, as I see it) and we were only two questions deep. I sheepishly told Roel we had to wait for Daddy to get home and ask him. We wrote the email, taking turns to type, with two principal thoughts weaving through my mind: Damn, my kid is smart. When did I become so dumb? :)

On another note, I was struck by how, even with the limited time they've spent together back in Philly and really how short in years they all are, these cousins already have a connection. Roel thinks of Garett in his musings. Then he includes Malenne in the email without prompting. Garett tells Roel he loves him, asks for a playdate (twice), and sees them as buddy cops in a future life. Malenne tells him she misses us all. There's a familiarity that even the tone-deaf medium of email picks up. He's got family. I'm so happy.


From: Sheila Cahill
To: Tammy and Tim Kelly
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 9:21:25 PM
Subject: A secret note just for my friends

What are you going to be when you grow up, Garett? I GUESSED A FIREFIGHTER AND MY MOM GUESSED POLICE OFFICER. What do you think you will be when you grow up, Malenne? I think you might be a rescue truck driver, and my mom thinks you might be a teacher.

Happy Christmas to you guys and everyone.

From, Roel and Sheila

Secret note only for my friends.
What are you doing today? Dee doo.


Garett's reply:
Can we have a playdate, Roel? What are you going to do today? I think you and me are going to be police officers. I love you! I like playing with you. Some day can we have a playdate?

Merry Christmas and Be Happy.

Love, Garett and Momy (Tita Tammy)


Malenne's reply:
Dear Roel,

Your mom was right! I am going to be a teacher when I grow up. what will you be when you grow up? We miss you guys and happy Christmas to you too!

Love,
Malenne Kelly