october 2007

-1043714, originally uploaded by Susan NYC.

Charlotte looks so cute in a dress....

Here she's finally deciding her great grandfather isn't going to do anything awful. Because of his alzheimer's, he makes strange growling noises, and he roars, especially at Charlotte because he thinks it's funny that she's scared.

Now, 2009, she roars back. It took her a while to get used to him - especially since she sees my father maybe once or twice a year.

My father has always had trouble feeling good about himself -with Charlotte he can exercise power because she's little. That's a mean streak he's had in him for a long time - he did it to me, to my sister, and to my daughter. And now he's got another generation to "scare."

I wonder how he'll be with Nathaniel, whom he hasn't seen yet. He may not have the same dynamic with a boy.

My mother had the upper hand with him, though. He was scared of her.

four generations

My father in the center, my daughter and granddaughter to his right, and my ex and his current wife standing behind...My father adores my ex-husband - he really lights up when Gino arrives. Fortunately, he'll go see him every few months.

Charlotte and my father

-1043709
Originally uploaded by Susan NYC

In October Jen & Charlotte & Scott came to NYC for a few days. Charlotte was actually excited about going to visit my father. She had a new guitar to show him (a $10 "street model" which actually works a bit).

It turned out he loved playing the guitar, and even though it was new and she loved it, she let him play with it practically the whole visit. I took a guitar to my father the next time I went.

I bought Charlotte a 10 cent lollipop at the nursing home "store" and she was delighted.

A beautiful day, so we sat outside.