I thank the gods for your "oversharing" twice a week. It really does feel like you are sharing your deepest, most vulnerable thoughts here like you are just chatting with each of us privately, intimately, one to one. You do it in beautiful, poetic prose, punctuated with unexpected zingers that catch us off guard and make us laugh through tears sometimes. And your grandkid pics shimmer just like their eyes. Thanks once again, Chris. You are one of a kind. Truly.
I’ve never outgrown my love for ice cream as a complete meal, and it hasn’t killed me yet. Also, I am pretty sure that I used to see the shimmering in my kids’ eyes as a sign of fever.
Beautiful and honest column. We’ve had our Nana and PopPop cards pulled on a few occasions (just kidding….almost) for having a little dinner followed by frozen yogurt😂😂(should go for ice cream….mire protein) can’t wait for news about Descanso! I still think Mookie looks like Smartacus. Thanks for the Substack answers.
I once read in a women's magazine that if it's a really hot day and the children are fussy, it's okay to give them ice cream for breakfast -- once in a while. So permission for ice cream as a meal comes on good authority!
A prof once accused me of "oversharing," so I was amused to read your comments on that personality quirk in today's column. The class was the history of rock -- as in rock and roll, not geology -- and the prof would spin those 45s of Top 10 AM radio hits in front of the class while tapping his foot, snapping his fingers, and tossing his overhanging forelock with every shake of his head. I signed up for the class in order to be better able to discuss music with my then boyfriend, a volunteer DJ at a university radio station.
On another note, I have recently read a headline about CBS closing all of its radio stations. Another vintage form of news media going the way of the dinosaurs.
Actually the stations aren’t shutting down - the radio NEWS division is. A 6% overall reduction in CBS personnel. Damn shame, as that particular news channel is widely regarded by objective media analysts as the best in commercial broadcast radio. Legacy media struggles to get enough advertising dollars to stay afloat.
You are brave! I never take my grandchildren out to a restaurant. To be fair, their parents don’t really take them out either. They are 2, 4 (almost 5) and 5. I see the head tilts - the middle one is adopted. I try really hard not to overstep with parenting advice but they definitely could use some work on table manners at home first. But I know what you mean about the eyes! And the dogs!
Hi Pam, it's tricky territory. The way I see it, no one is born knowing how to "parent." On-the-job training is the only way. I think the best thing grandparents can do is compliment the things the parents do right and leave it at that.
Good morning Chris. Of course I would follow you here! But, I am still trying to figure it all out. Your message to frequently asked questions was helpful. Thank you. Enjoy National Pet Day today! 🐕🐈
For the first couple of years (okay, actually until he was about 7) my son’s favorite meal was canned green beans (directly out of the can), frozen fish sticks (uncooked, still frozen) and a huge mouthful of jellybeans ( I once had to perform the heimlich on him)! He’s 27 now is healthy and eats like a normal person. Let kids be kids and they usually turn out okay!
This piece is amusing--and fun. To my mind (and unfortunately because of it and its oblique propensities) difficult to achieve. Not for you.
you spool out quotable acuity and loose levities artfully balanced in equal measure. That's a too delicate reach for most of us. I also note that oversharing r'us. What is this ceaseless burning compulsion to communicate one's self, coupled with the clueless ego's assumption it is worth sharing with others? my whole life I have expressed myself directly and said too much. It has gained little except, occasionally, in print. But here,, we are a tribe, speaking the language, singing the chorus, of the tribal leader...and it's not "a bridge too far" because each time our leader crosses the bridge for us. What a beautiful Spring day. Ain't it grand?
Always liked your oversharing, Forrest. I have this theory that the most-popular kids in school were the ones brave enough to overshare. They entertained everyone with their foibles. The rest of us never had the same courage. You, my friend, were probably among the popular kids! In any case, you are now!
Myself and my 9 other sibs were raised on re-runs of Hogan's Heroes, Gilligans Island (the 3 hour tour-baloney!), MASH, the 3 Stooges, The Twilight Zone, Soul Train (on Sat's)-that's how I learned to dance:) and on and on and we all turned out just fine:). We had to learn cooperation and mediation early because we each were assigned a day to be in charge of turning the channel knob while watching with of course majority rule! Pre "clicker" ooppss-I meant remote!!
Not only do they quit sharing their thoughts at a young age, they also quit singing loudly with abandon, not caring what anyone thinks. they also often quit drawing wonderful masterpieces after too many people ask "what's that". As a retired theater teacher too many times did I have to help my students rediscover their inner child and express themselves freely without fear of being judged.
I thank the gods for your "oversharing" twice a week. It really does feel like you are sharing your deepest, most vulnerable thoughts here like you are just chatting with each of us privately, intimately, one to one. You do it in beautiful, poetic prose, punctuated with unexpected zingers that catch us off guard and make us laugh through tears sometimes. And your grandkid pics shimmer just like their eyes. Thanks once again, Chris. You are one of a kind. Truly.
Oh you!
I’ve never outgrown my love for ice cream as a complete meal, and it hasn’t killed me yet. Also, I am pretty sure that I used to see the shimmering in my kids’ eyes as a sign of fever.
I had a niece that the only thing she would eat from ages 3 to 4 was McDonalds French fries, nothing. Else. She turned out ok :)
Beautiful and honest column. We’ve had our Nana and PopPop cards pulled on a few occasions (just kidding….almost) for having a little dinner followed by frozen yogurt😂😂(should go for ice cream….mire protein) can’t wait for news about Descanso! I still think Mookie looks like Smartacus. Thanks for the Substack answers.
Loved this today - my thoughts are that ice cream makes a fine meal - the more the better !!
Agreed!
Smartacus looks great with a beard. Never apologize for taking grandkids out for ice cream it’s in the small print of our contract.
Yeah, the beard looks pretty good, doesn't it? Ice cream is in the contract!
I once read in a women's magazine that if it's a really hot day and the children are fussy, it's okay to give them ice cream for breakfast -- once in a while. So permission for ice cream as a meal comes on good authority!
A prof once accused me of "oversharing," so I was amused to read your comments on that personality quirk in today's column. The class was the history of rock -- as in rock and roll, not geology -- and the prof would spin those 45s of Top 10 AM radio hits in front of the class while tapping his foot, snapping his fingers, and tossing his overhanging forelock with every shake of his head. I signed up for the class in order to be better able to discuss music with my then boyfriend, a volunteer DJ at a university radio station.
On another note, I have recently read a headline about CBS closing all of its radio stations. Another vintage form of news media going the way of the dinosaurs.
Actually the stations aren’t shutting down - the radio NEWS division is. A 6% overall reduction in CBS personnel. Damn shame, as that particular news channel is widely regarded by objective media analysts as the best in commercial broadcast radio. Legacy media struggles to get enough advertising dollars to stay afloat.
You can thank Trump for that!
You are brave! I never take my grandchildren out to a restaurant. To be fair, their parents don’t really take them out either. They are 2, 4 (almost 5) and 5. I see the head tilts - the middle one is adopted. I try really hard not to overstep with parenting advice but they definitely could use some work on table manners at home first. But I know what you mean about the eyes! And the dogs!
Hi Pam, it's tricky territory. The way I see it, no one is born knowing how to "parent." On-the-job training is the only way. I think the best thing grandparents can do is compliment the things the parents do right and leave it at that.
Ty for the direct link.
Good morning Chris. Of course I would follow you here! But, I am still trying to figure it all out. Your message to frequently asked questions was helpful. Thank you. Enjoy National Pet Day today! 🐕🐈
For the first couple of years (okay, actually until he was about 7) my son’s favorite meal was canned green beans (directly out of the can), frozen fish sticks (uncooked, still frozen) and a huge mouthful of jellybeans ( I once had to perform the heimlich on him)! He’s 27 now is healthy and eats like a normal person. Let kids be kids and they usually turn out okay!
I agree! My kids always ate veggies. We were just lucky that way. But kids get by just fine without them.
This piece is amusing--and fun. To my mind (and unfortunately because of it and its oblique propensities) difficult to achieve. Not for you.
you spool out quotable acuity and loose levities artfully balanced in equal measure. That's a too delicate reach for most of us. I also note that oversharing r'us. What is this ceaseless burning compulsion to communicate one's self, coupled with the clueless ego's assumption it is worth sharing with others? my whole life I have expressed myself directly and said too much. It has gained little except, occasionally, in print. But here,, we are a tribe, speaking the language, singing the chorus, of the tribal leader...and it's not "a bridge too far" because each time our leader crosses the bridge for us. What a beautiful Spring day. Ain't it grand?
Always liked your oversharing, Forrest. I have this theory that the most-popular kids in school were the ones brave enough to overshare. They entertained everyone with their foibles. The rest of us never had the same courage. You, my friend, were probably among the popular kids! In any case, you are now!
Myself and my 9 other sibs were raised on re-runs of Hogan's Heroes, Gilligans Island (the 3 hour tour-baloney!), MASH, the 3 Stooges, The Twilight Zone, Soul Train (on Sat's)-that's how I learned to dance:) and on and on and we all turned out just fine:). We had to learn cooperation and mediation early because we each were assigned a day to be in charge of turning the channel knob while watching with of course majority rule! Pre "clicker" ooppss-I meant remote!!
New to your writing and enjoying it!
All grandparents think their grandkids have the prettiest eyes, the brightest smiles, the smartest brains and all grandparents are correct.
Your Cakes does, indeed, have beautiful big blue eyes.
True. If you can't be proud of your grandkids, what can you be proud of?
Not only do they quit sharing their thoughts at a young age, they also quit singing loudly with abandon, not caring what anyone thinks. they also often quit drawing wonderful masterpieces after too many people ask "what's that". As a retired theater teacher too many times did I have to help my students rediscover their inner child and express themselves freely without fear of being judged.
Well said, Susan. Bet you were a heck of a teacher. A lot of art is merely embracing the courage of our inner child.