Romance was thick in the Welty household yesterday. I had to call Alanna and Art and let them know that I would miss the 709 Teacher’s and staff retirement party. This was because it was the third wedding anniversary of our daughter. I found myself unexpectedly taking care of our grandsons.
The same night we got a call from our son’s significant other. She told us that the two of them were engaged. After Claudia handed the phone to me I told my soon-to-be daughter-in-law that my cheeks were cramping up because of smiling.
Our future DIL was worried about letting us know before she posted the happy news on Facebook lest we find out second hand. Our son, you see, is the master of nonchalance. When his intended asked if she should call his Mother and tell her his response was “Why would you do that?”
After hearing the news and our our son’s studied indifference Claudia texted him with the question: “Do you have anything to tell us?”
His reply: “I’m cool.”
We’ve raised another Calvin Coolidge.
I’m not surprised. In 2017 his old classmate, Annie Harala, told me her second grader’s recollection of a story that our family dusts off regularly. Coincidentally, I saw Annie and Robb’s old second grade teacher, Mrs. Lemon, at the grocery story the other day and mentioned the incident to her. Mrs. Lemon brought a bucket of lamb eyeballs to class for the children to dissect. Robb took one look at the contents and passed out. As Annie remembered it, all the kids raised their hand to tell Mrs. Lemon that Robb was on out cold on the floor.
“Oh I was trying to remember which student that was,” Mrs. Lemon replied.
I suspect that when Robb woke up, he acted as though he had intended to pass out. He is a cat person and cats are always cool.
