Sweet Moments With Avery

2009 - 2015

Do you remember the closing line of the The Sopranos' first season when Tony says to his kids during a spontaneous family dinner; "someday you're gonna have children of your own and if you're lucky you'll remember the little moments like these that were good".

I have four adorable little moment memories of my grandson, Avery. He is a warm, affectionate kid. I especially like his luxurious bear hugs.

The family was at the Deerhurst Resort in the summer of 2009 when Avery was about one and a half years old. Seven of us; me and Margie, my wife, my daughter Amy and her husband Aaron, Avery’s parents, Avery and my son Stephen. Avery was the center of attention, the only grandchild at the time. He had been walking for about three months, still teetering somewhat, but able to move around zealously with his new skill. 

One evening in our suite when we were sitting around talking and eating appetizers Avery gave us a thrill. I was at one end of the circle and Stephen was opposite me about 15 feet away. Stephen asked me to pass him a slice of something. At that moment Avery was with me so I jokingly asked him to take the slice over to Stephen. And he did. Well that was the first time we saw Avery understand and do such a complicated request. I noticed and got excited and then like rolling thunder my delight moved around the table until it got to Avery who launched the cutest smile you ever saw. Adorable.

Back in the city around the same time I was about to walk into a library when I felt a slight tugging at my pant leg. I looked down and it was Avery. He had approached from another direction in the care of his nanny Ena. They had seen me  before I saw them and Ena encouraged him to overcome his shyness and come to me. 

Avery barely came up to my knee at the time,   so picture Avery reaching up and looking up to get my attention. He wasn't talking yet so the tug was his voice. Adorable.

About two years later Amy, was on mat leave spending January with us in Florida with Avery, then almost four, and three month old Brooke in tow. 

Our rented condo was about a half mile from the Atlantic Ocean beach with a spacious park in between. Avery and I played in the park regularly. He was high energy and I liked to chase around with him. There was always a ball of some sort involved in our play.

One day as we walked towards the beach we spied a baseball game in progress at our park's little league baseball diamond. When we got close we discovered eight kids aged four to ten playing under the guidance of one experienced adult, maybe a coach. We sat in the bleachers at first. I wanted Avery to witness an actual game in progress. That didn't last long. Avery was invited to join in; to bat as best he could and to play in the field when he wasn't at bat. He had little idea of what to do but he participated as best he could. Like the others he  responded to yelled directions and encouragement every step of the way. 

When the game ended and we started to walk home Avery yelled out, to no one in particular something like, "If you ever need another player I live in an apartment over there". Adorable.

When Avery was seven Lego was his go to hobby. Occasionally Avery and I worked as a team on his projects. I helped as he struggled his way through. My jobs were to read the instruction book and find the correct pieces which Avery had sorted into bowls in some orderly fashion. Avery's jobs were to interpret the instructions based on his lengthy experience, interlock the pieces into whatever spaceship or monstrosity he was building and to lightly brush his elbow against mine as we sat close together. Electrifying. 

Avery is about to cross over into his teenage years. He'll be awful busy. I'm lucky.  There are three granddaughters following in his footsteps for me to adore. 

March 2020