by Donna Swagerty Shreve
Meeting Alex for the First Time
Before the actual introduction of Alex to our family, I need to give some background information. John’s sister Adele was making a third visit to us in three months. She arrived the evening of December 25th, 2013 and was shown the loft. The spare bedroom was reserved for Brad, our youngest son, and his partner we were getting to meet for the first time. Alex had flown out from Boston after spending Christmas with his family.
Adele traveled without her grown daughter this time yet she did not come alone. On her dash board for the long trip from San Diego sat Tinker Bell, the bearded dragon lizard. Tinker Bell measured about eighteen inches in length with tail and body almost equal in size. I had helped Adele set up a cage and heat lamp up in the loft so the lizard was accommodated. However on our day of introductions, Adele had chosen to place Tinker Bell against her chest with the lizards’ triangular bearded head poking out of Adele’s blouse.
Alex and Brad arrived in Stockton straight from the San Francisco airport at about midnight. I heard them come in but chose to wait until the morning of the 27th to greet Brad’s partner. That morning, I hurried into the kitchen to make preparations for a fun breakfast for all, plus I was putting together a bag full of snacks and drinks for the boys’ ski trip. Adele come down from the loft and placed herself at the table in the dining room that is part of the kitchen. As we chatted away, the lizard is looking around taking in her new environment. Brad came out of the room first and helped me prepare breakfast. As the meal was full of a variety of items, such as hand squeezed orange juice, John was also in the kitchen helping out.
Alex then emerged from the bedroom and joined Adele at the table. We all greeted him and I chatted from the open entry way to the kitchen. I greeted Alex warmly and he was introduced to John and Adele and Tinker Bell. I needed to finish up breakfast preparations and tried to continue chatting from the kitchen.
Adele decided to use her advantage of sitting right next to Alex and steered the conversation to Shreve family history. Within the next two minutes, Alex was informed that Brad’s grandmother, John and Adele’s mother, had not enjoyed sex and it was a small miracle she had given birth to four children. To add to that amazing revelation, Adele mentioned that her mother also had a tilted uterus.
My breakfast preparation came to a screeching halt as I placed myself at the table and starting asking Alex about his Christmas he had just spent with his family. Meanwhile John took Brad aside and strongly suggested the two of them leave as soon as possible on their ski trip before it got any worse.
Brad replied that Alex was tough and not to worry. Breakfast was served quickly and Brad and Alex were sent on their way. I knew the guys would spend another two days and one night with us later in the week and Adele would be gone by then.
It turned out Alex had taken Aunt Adele in stride and found her amusing. After the boys had departed, Adele wanted to shop for a GPS to help her with future traveling. I had done some research and knew there was a sale going on at Best Buy. Before we left for the store, Adele wanted to borrow a scarf. I asked why she wanted a scarf so I could pick the right color or size.
Adele wanted to strap Tinker Bell to her chest before we left. I had reached my limit. It was one thing to have been staring at the huge lizard coming up out of her loose collar in the privacy of my home. Walking through Best Buy with a strange bump on her chest was not something I was willing to accompany.
I refused her request and explained there was a good chance she would be stopped for possible shoplifting. When they searched her, it would even get weirder. Fortunately my sister-in-law agreed to put Tinker Bell back in her cage before we departed.
Adele had recently experienced her husband of thirty plus years leaving her. She felt this had released her and she no longer needed the usual social filters. The first impression in meeting Alex was a nightmare at the time but there has been enough time where now it is an amusing family story.
776 words
D. Shreve 2014
Meeting Alex for the First Time
Before the actual introduction of Alex to our family, I need to give some background information. John’s sister Adele was making a third visit to us in three months. She arrived the evening of December 25th, 2013 and was shown the loft. The spare bedroom was reserved for Brad, our youngest son, and his partner we were getting to meet for the first time. Alex had flown out from Boston after spending Christmas with his family.
Adele traveled without her grown daughter this time yet she did not come alone. On her dash board for the long trip from San Diego sat Tinker Bell, the bearded dragon lizard. Tinker Bell measured about eighteen inches in length with tail and body almost equal in size. I had helped Adele set up a cage and heat lamp up in the loft so the lizard was accommodated. However on our day of introductions, Adele had chosen to place Tinker Bell against her chest with the lizards’ triangular bearded head poking out of Adele’s blouse.
Alex and Brad arrived in Stockton straight from the San Francisco airport at about midnight. I heard them come in but chose to wait until the morning of the 27th to greet Brad’s partner. That morning, I hurried into the kitchen to make preparations for a fun breakfast for all, plus I was putting together a bag full of snacks and drinks for the boys’ ski trip. Adele come down from the loft and placed herself at the table in the dining room that is part of the kitchen. As we chatted away, the lizard is looking around taking in her new environment. Brad came out of the room first and helped me prepare breakfast. As the meal was full of a variety of items, such as hand squeezed orange juice, John was also in the kitchen helping out.
Alex then emerged from the bedroom and joined Adele at the table. We all greeted him and I chatted from the open entry way to the kitchen. I greeted Alex warmly and he was introduced to John and Adele and Tinker Bell. I needed to finish up breakfast preparations and tried to continue chatting from the kitchen.
Adele decided to use her advantage of sitting right next to Alex and steered the conversation to Shreve family history. Within the next two minutes, Alex was informed that Brad’s grandmother, John and Adele’s mother, had not enjoyed sex and it was a small miracle she had given birth to four children. To add to that amazing revelation, Adele mentioned that her mother also had a tilted uterus.
My breakfast preparation came to a screeching halt as I placed myself at the table and starting asking Alex about his Christmas he had just spent with his family. Meanwhile John took Brad aside and strongly suggested the two of them leave as soon as possible on their ski trip before it got any worse.
Brad replied that Alex was tough and not to worry. Breakfast was served quickly and Brad and Alex were sent on their way. I knew the guys would spend another two days and one night with us later in the week and Adele would be gone by then.
It turned out Alex had taken Aunt Adele in stride and found her amusing. After the boys had departed, Adele wanted to shop for a GPS to help her with future traveling. I had done some research and knew there was a sale going on at Best Buy. Before we left for the store, Adele wanted to borrow a scarf. I asked why she wanted a scarf so I could pick the right color or size.
Adele wanted to strap Tinker Bell to her chest before we left. I had reached my limit. It was one thing to have been staring at the huge lizard coming up out of her loose collar in the privacy of my home. Walking through Best Buy with a strange bump on her chest was not something I was willing to accompany.
I refused her request and explained there was a good chance she would be stopped for possible shoplifting. When they searched her, it would even get weirder. Fortunately my sister-in-law agreed to put Tinker Bell back in her cage before we departed.
Adele had recently experienced her husband of thirty plus years leaving her. She felt this had released her and she no longer needed the usual social filters. The first impression in meeting Alex was a nightmare at the time but there has been enough time where now it is an amusing family story.
776 words
D. Shreve 2014
Meeting Alex for the First Time
Before the actual introduction of Alex to our family, I need to give some background information. John’s sister Adele was making a third visit to us in three months. She arrived the evening of December 25th, 2013 and was shown the loft. The spare bedroom was reserved for Brad, our youngest son, and his partner we were getting to meet for the first time. Alex had flown out from Boston after spending Christmas with his family.
Adele traveled without her grown daughter this time yet she did not come alone. On her dash board for the long trip from San Diego sat Tinker Bell, the bearded dragon lizard. Tinker Bell measured about eighteen inches in length with tail and body almost equal in size. I had helped Adele set up a cage and heat lamp up in the loft so the lizard was accommodated. However on our day of introductions, Adele had chosen to place Tinker Bell against her chest with the lizards’ triangular bearded head poking out of Adele’s blouse.
Alex and Brad arrived in Stockton straight from the San Francisco airport at about midnight. I heard them come in but chose to wait until the morning of the 27th to greet Brad’s partner. That morning, I hurried into the kitchen to make preparations for a fun breakfast for all, plus I was putting together a bag full of snacks and drinks for the boys’ ski trip. Adele come down from the loft and placed herself at the table in the dining room that is part of the kitchen. As we chatted away, the lizard is looking around taking in her new environment. Brad came out of the room first and helped me prepare breakfast. As the meal was full of a variety of items, such as hand squeezed orange juice, John was also in the kitchen helping out.
Alex then emerged from the bedroom and joined Adele at the table. We all greeted him and I chatted from the open entry way to the kitchen. I greeted Alex warmly and he was introduced to John and Adele and Tinker Bell. I needed to finish up breakfast preparations and tried to continue chatting from the kitchen.
Adele decided to use her advantage of sitting right next to Alex and steered the conversation to Shreve family history. Within the next two minutes, Alex was informed that Brad’s grandmother, John and Adele’s mother, had not enjoyed sex and it was a small miracle she had given birth to four children. To add to that amazing revelation, Adele mentioned that her mother also had a tilted uterus.
My breakfast preparation came to a screeching halt as I placed myself at the table and starting asking Alex about his Christmas he had just spent with his family. Meanwhile John took Brad aside and strongly suggested the two of them leave as soon as possible on their ski trip before it got any worse.
Brad replied that Alex was tough and not to worry. Breakfast was served quickly and Brad and Alex were sent on their way. I knew the guys would spend another two days and one night with us later in the week and Adele would be gone by then.
It turned out Alex had taken Aunt Adele in stride and found her amusing. After the boys had departed, Adele wanted to shop for a GPS to help her with future traveling. I had done some research and knew there was a sale going on at Best Buy. Before we left for the store, Adele wanted to borrow a scarf. I asked why she wanted a scarf so I could pick the right color or size.
Adele wanted to strap Tinker Bell to her chest before we left. I had reached my limit. It was one thing to have been staring at the huge lizard coming up out of her loose collar in the privacy of my home. Walking through Best Buy with a strange bump on her chest was not something I was willing to accompany.
I refused her request and explained there was a good chance she would be stopped for possible shoplifting. When they searched her, it would even get weirder. Fortunately my sister-in-law agreed to put Tinker Bell back in her cage before we departed.
Adele had recently experienced her husband of thirty plus years leaving her. She felt this had released her and she no longer needed the usual social filters. The first impression in meeting Alex was a nightmare at the time but there has been enough time where now it is an amusing family story.
776 words
2014
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