Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Rachel Pink In Manhattan

Slice Of Paradise

THURSDAY

The last day of work looms and I'm glad to have a break. My nephew, that brilliant four-year-old ball of personality, is coming to stay overnight with just me and Chuck -- no Mommy, Daddy, or Grandma in sight. We will look at dinosaur bones, ride the indoor Ferris wheel at Toys 'R' Us and eat sugar straight from the canister, if that's what he wants.

The last time Donovan came to Manhattan he had my mom in tow and he cried for his own mommy before bedtime. For this visit I've built no crying time into the schedule.

We start our adventure in grand style with meatball pizza from Frank's and root beer straight from the can. Donovan said his mother lets him do it; I doubt it is true. Our young hero makes it through two cans without a split lip or a spill. Mission accomplished, my darling is fed and unhurt.

Sponsored
Sponsored

After dinner we send Chuck to the couch with pillows and a blanket so we can snuggle in bed. Donovan spies a gold-domed building out the window and marvels at how high we are, eight stories up, closer to the clouds than to the ground. We fall asleep with a full bed: Donovan, Bunbun the bunny, green blankie, and me. I have never been happier.

Morning comes much too fast and Chuck makes us waffles and sausages. They are sweet and good and Donovan eats another meal without injury. I cut the waffles into tiny, tiny pieces. Choking, alas, is not on the schedule. Nor is lollygagging. "Donovan, put your pants on!" I scream, as he runs around the bedroom half naked. "Look at my butt! Look at my butt!" I know in my heart he is still a genius, even with this.

A fully clothed and properly bundled Donovan is intrigued by the elevator and insists on being the button presser. He also insists on hailing cabs or any passing cars or trucks, so sure of himself and so adorably aggressive that passersby laugh in their cars. When a cab does stop, Donovan politely thanks the driver and directs him to Toys 'R' Us. My Donovan has Manhattan in his blood. He fits in here with Aunt Rachel, and I could happily ride cabs with him all day long.

But a daylong cab ride is not in the schedule, so I settle for a trip to the toy store.

The Times Square Toys 'R' Us has a giant indoor Ferris wheel with each car decorated like a different character: Scooby-Doo alongside Barbie; E.T. above a thatch of Cabbage Patch Kids.

Today Donovan decided Jeff and Henry, his imaginary friends, would come along for the ride too. We load ourselves, both real and imaginary, into a car that resembles a giant red cartoon truck. We spin around and around for 15 minutes while I take lots of pictures. Maybe Donovan can use them for show-and-tell. Maybe my name will come up. Maybe every time he sees a Ferris wheel he'll remember this day.

All Ferris-ed out, we grab another cab and head for the Museum of Natural History. We drive around Central Park and see the bright orange Gates installation swirling in the wind and rain. The color is not saffron like I had expected. It's orange, brilliant orange, and Donovan is impressed. When we reach the museum he turns around and I take his picture. He holds up his hands, twists his legs, and scrunches up his face -- the bright Gates in the background bending and twisting along with him. The rain starts coming down in sheets, so we head inside.

Please note that I have not decided to take a four-year-old boy to a museum for hours and hours. In a moment of uncharacteristic sensibility, I decide that our first museum trip should be a short one: dinosaurs, butterflies, and the giant whale.

My Donovan had never been to a museum before and I sense his awe right away. The dinosaur bones I had promised are right there at the entrance and as soon as he spies them he tries to scramble up and touch. I guide him away from the bones and toward the sign that explains them. Before I can speak, Donovan starts explaining everything in the chart to me and another little boy standing by. "That's a long-neck dinosaur, and that's a short-neck dinosaur. That's a tooth dinosaur and that's a four-leg dinosaur." He was so confident and sure of himself, I didn't want to stop him. The serious father of the little boy was not so inclined. He turned to his son and asked if he wanted to know the REAL names of the dinosaurs. Without waiting for an answer he starts to give an impromptu lesson about prehistoric beasts.

I prefer Donovan's "Long-leg-o-saur" to the Brontosaurus. I'd rather he'd play the part of a four-year-old Adam, naming new things as they come into his world. Serious father be damned.

Our next stop was the butterfly room, a rectangular slice of moist tropical paradise all aflutter with butterflies. For the sake of harried parents and teachers, the museum staff lined the path to the room with bird dioramas making the 20-minute wait fly on by. Moments before the butterfly doors opened, Donovan turned away from a stuffed albatross before him and said, "I love you, Aunt Rachel."

Other things happened that day. We saw giant butterflies eat from an orange and dinosaur bones and taxi drivers. We ate McDonald's and played word games on the train. But my day stops outside the butterfly room when Donovan said he loved me without being asked.

Donovan is leaving soon, going to Florida with his sister and mom and dad. It makes my stomach hurt because I want to watch him grow smart and solid and strong. I want him to know me. I want to read to him and take him for dim sum on Sundays. I want him to love my city, and be changed by my city, almost as much as I want him to love me.

Rachelpink Rides the Bus: www.rachelpink.typepad.com/

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Centennial Salute to San Diego’s Military, East Village Block Party, Birding Basics Class

Events March 29-March 30, 2024
Next Article

SDSU pres gets highest pay raise in state over last 15 years

Union-Tribune still stiffing downtown San Diego landlord?

Slice Of Paradise

THURSDAY

The last day of work looms and I'm glad to have a break. My nephew, that brilliant four-year-old ball of personality, is coming to stay overnight with just me and Chuck -- no Mommy, Daddy, or Grandma in sight. We will look at dinosaur bones, ride the indoor Ferris wheel at Toys 'R' Us and eat sugar straight from the canister, if that's what he wants.

The last time Donovan came to Manhattan he had my mom in tow and he cried for his own mommy before bedtime. For this visit I've built no crying time into the schedule.

We start our adventure in grand style with meatball pizza from Frank's and root beer straight from the can. Donovan said his mother lets him do it; I doubt it is true. Our young hero makes it through two cans without a split lip or a spill. Mission accomplished, my darling is fed and unhurt.

Sponsored
Sponsored

After dinner we send Chuck to the couch with pillows and a blanket so we can snuggle in bed. Donovan spies a gold-domed building out the window and marvels at how high we are, eight stories up, closer to the clouds than to the ground. We fall asleep with a full bed: Donovan, Bunbun the bunny, green blankie, and me. I have never been happier.

Morning comes much too fast and Chuck makes us waffles and sausages. They are sweet and good and Donovan eats another meal without injury. I cut the waffles into tiny, tiny pieces. Choking, alas, is not on the schedule. Nor is lollygagging. "Donovan, put your pants on!" I scream, as he runs around the bedroom half naked. "Look at my butt! Look at my butt!" I know in my heart he is still a genius, even with this.

A fully clothed and properly bundled Donovan is intrigued by the elevator and insists on being the button presser. He also insists on hailing cabs or any passing cars or trucks, so sure of himself and so adorably aggressive that passersby laugh in their cars. When a cab does stop, Donovan politely thanks the driver and directs him to Toys 'R' Us. My Donovan has Manhattan in his blood. He fits in here with Aunt Rachel, and I could happily ride cabs with him all day long.

But a daylong cab ride is not in the schedule, so I settle for a trip to the toy store.

The Times Square Toys 'R' Us has a giant indoor Ferris wheel with each car decorated like a different character: Scooby-Doo alongside Barbie; E.T. above a thatch of Cabbage Patch Kids.

Today Donovan decided Jeff and Henry, his imaginary friends, would come along for the ride too. We load ourselves, both real and imaginary, into a car that resembles a giant red cartoon truck. We spin around and around for 15 minutes while I take lots of pictures. Maybe Donovan can use them for show-and-tell. Maybe my name will come up. Maybe every time he sees a Ferris wheel he'll remember this day.

All Ferris-ed out, we grab another cab and head for the Museum of Natural History. We drive around Central Park and see the bright orange Gates installation swirling in the wind and rain. The color is not saffron like I had expected. It's orange, brilliant orange, and Donovan is impressed. When we reach the museum he turns around and I take his picture. He holds up his hands, twists his legs, and scrunches up his face -- the bright Gates in the background bending and twisting along with him. The rain starts coming down in sheets, so we head inside.

Please note that I have not decided to take a four-year-old boy to a museum for hours and hours. In a moment of uncharacteristic sensibility, I decide that our first museum trip should be a short one: dinosaurs, butterflies, and the giant whale.

My Donovan had never been to a museum before and I sense his awe right away. The dinosaur bones I had promised are right there at the entrance and as soon as he spies them he tries to scramble up and touch. I guide him away from the bones and toward the sign that explains them. Before I can speak, Donovan starts explaining everything in the chart to me and another little boy standing by. "That's a long-neck dinosaur, and that's a short-neck dinosaur. That's a tooth dinosaur and that's a four-leg dinosaur." He was so confident and sure of himself, I didn't want to stop him. The serious father of the little boy was not so inclined. He turned to his son and asked if he wanted to know the REAL names of the dinosaurs. Without waiting for an answer he starts to give an impromptu lesson about prehistoric beasts.

I prefer Donovan's "Long-leg-o-saur" to the Brontosaurus. I'd rather he'd play the part of a four-year-old Adam, naming new things as they come into his world. Serious father be damned.

Our next stop was the butterfly room, a rectangular slice of moist tropical paradise all aflutter with butterflies. For the sake of harried parents and teachers, the museum staff lined the path to the room with bird dioramas making the 20-minute wait fly on by. Moments before the butterfly doors opened, Donovan turned away from a stuffed albatross before him and said, "I love you, Aunt Rachel."

Other things happened that day. We saw giant butterflies eat from an orange and dinosaur bones and taxi drivers. We ate McDonald's and played word games on the train. But my day stops outside the butterfly room when Donovan said he loved me without being asked.

Donovan is leaving soon, going to Florida with his sister and mom and dad. It makes my stomach hurt because I want to watch him grow smart and solid and strong. I want him to know me. I want to read to him and take him for dim sum on Sundays. I want him to love my city, and be changed by my city, almost as much as I want him to love me.

Rachelpink Rides the Bus: www.rachelpink.typepad.com/

Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

SDSU pres gets highest pay raise in state over last 15 years

Union-Tribune still stiffing downtown San Diego landlord?
Next Article

2024 continues to impress with yellowfin much closer to San Diego than they should be

New rockfish regulations coming this week as opener approaches
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.