When I Grow Up....

Michael took a break from eating his dinner to remark in an offhand manner (can I say "offhandedly"?) that when he grows up he wants to be an author or an editor and live in New York. The City you might ask, as I did. No. Upstate. In the winter, Michael went on, he would move down to Tallahassee, Florida (a place we have never been, nor about which we have spoken), where he'd have a second house, and there he would study animals, primarily cats, bats and owls.

My initial reaction was surprise. It seemed to me to be a lot of thought, detail and planning for someone Michael's age. Of course when I was Michael's age I had a friend who wanted to be a dolphin when she grew up. And I was still entertaining the possibility that I could speak with animals and was hoping to some day turn into a good witch.

My next thought was, why not a doctor? I have never pushed this idea, but I do not understand why it is not more appealing to the boys. Clearly, though, Michael is not particularly interested in a medical career. He told me he would think more about becoming a doctor, but he is leaning toward no. Perhaps I looked disappointed, because he then capitulated (a very little), suggesting that maybe he could "be a doctor in his spare time." His words. I explained that one could not realistically be a doctor only in one's spare time. What about a geologist, he asked? I said yes, that sounded reasonable. So doctor is completely out.

Michael's last remarks were that perhaps he would like to become a teacher. If he went that route, he would like to teach fifth grade and he would like for the children in his classroom to call him Mr. W.

As you might expect, Spencer has plans as well. First though, and of special importance to him, was the issue of where he would live if Michael was dividing his time between New York and Florida. He suggested to Michael that they could live together in New York (sweet), but Michael said that brothers do not live together (crushed). Spencer, ever the pragmatist, then asked Michael if they could get separate houses on the same block. Michael did not think much of that idea. He thought it very unlikely that both of them would be able to find a house at the same time on the same block. Upon further reflection, Spencer decided that I would be lonely if both Michael and Spencer moved away, so Spencer said he would stay here near me. That decided, he move onto his professional aspirations. He said he would like to be a doctor, a gold miner or a teacher. If he taught schoold, he'd like to teach kindergarten or first grade.