Can you imagine what a boost to the ego and lift to the spirits it is for a lonely old guy like me to have Kylie spot me walking toward the bleachers at Eric’s baseball game yesterday, and to have her come racing toward me shouting, “Uncle Mike!” Can you? I bet you can.

I wasn’t the object of her attention for long, though, since Kat was there. Kylie loves to carry on often one-sided conversations with just about anyone who will listen, and Kat is one of her best listeners. She somehow gets the convoluted logical connections of a three-year-old. It’s good to have someone who understands you.

Aiden’s thought processes are more linear, but that doesn’t mean they keep going in the same direction all the time. He shifts gears pretty quickly, and you have to be on your toes to keep up with him. He won’t let go of something until he’s sure he’s made you understand, or at least until he knows you’ve heard him. Then it’s on to the next shiny thing that he notices.

He can be a little demanding if you don’t pay attention, though. He was sitting between David and me and leaning heavily back and forth. Then he started squeezing, and I asked him please not to hurt me, since I’m an old person. “You’re not an old person,” he insisted, “but I’m a young whippersnapper.” Well, yes, I had to admit that he was right about the last part. He always giggles when he knows he’s made a joke.

And today it was back to the routine grind, although I have to admit it was a pleasantly low key Monday. And by that I mean I got the time cards without having to ask for them and finished the payroll without any interruptions. That’s just how easy it is to keep the Monday blues away, as far as I’m concerned. I’m not all that demanding, when it comes down to it. But still, Sunday was better.