 |
| 7 months |
Following are adjectives to describe today's Birthday Boy. (I have left some blank so that others may contribute as well - and it's OK to have more than one word per letter!)
The ABCs of Kris
Allergic to water. He can’t drink it because it makes his throat itchy. Water isn’t an option for keeping him hydrated, but he’s convinced Dr Pepper keeps him healthy.
Artistic. Kris has made so many beautiful ceramic vases, bowls, mugs and figurines. I always receive compliments on the napkin rings he made for me. He has also painted pictures and created other works of art.
 |
| Kris with a small sampling of his artwork |
Busy. Kris may give the impression that he just lounges around, but the minute he thinks I am out of the house for a few minutes he is getting things done: taking out the trash and the recycling, feeding the cats, putting laundry into the washing machine, making sure there is toilet paper in every bathroom. If I am gone longer than a few hours he will reorganize the pantry and the fridge.
Conversational. Kris talks almost non-stop. He talks about movie stars and wrestlers. He talks about ancestors, relatives, neighbors and friends. He talks about when he will go back to Oregon or move to Los Angeles. As soon as he wakes up he begins talking. Nobody has to be in the room with him, he’s perfectly happy with his own company! Often he will bring a book or magazine to read to me when I’m working in the kitchen or on the computer. He very willingly shares all the exciting things he reads in his magazines. (see Expert and Mail Junkie)
Divergent. Kris believes that a good conversationalist will always have an opposing opinion. At least that's my theory. I don't think he deliberately tries to be contrary, only that he is looking for opportunities to have his own opinion.
Dr Pepper Junkie. Kris can drink Dr Pepper ‘til the cows come home – if we could get Dr Pepper by milking a cow we would need a herd. (see Allergic)
Expert on many subjects, especially his soap operas, wrestling and the Oscars. (see Conversational)
Forty-Six years old today!
G
Heaven-Bound, and we know that we are the ones who have to stay on the straight and narrow if we want to spend eternity with him!
Instructive. (see Conversational and Expert)
J
K
Lyrical. And musical at the same time. I love it when I hear Kris singing in his room because it usually means he is quite happy. He rarely sings when anyone else is in the room, but occasionally he will give us a song and dance number ala Elvis or Michael Jackson.
Mail Junkie. Unfortunately, our mail is rarely delivered before 3 or 4pm. This means that Kris checks the mailbox every 20-30 minutes after his first soap opera ends at noon. He is thrilled when there is a letter or magazine for him, but the fix is very short-lived – almost as soon as he has looked at his mail he is talking about what will come for him the next day.
 |
| Waiting....waiting....waiting |
Neighborly. (see Xenodochial)
Observant. All I have to say is, “I can’t remember where I put ____________”, and if it’s anything that caught Kris’ eye he will be able to tell me where it is – which shelf in the pantry, which drawer in which room or which storage box in the garage! He usually knows how much money is in my wallet as well.
Pure. (see Heaven-Bound)
Quotable. “See the difference?” or “Maybe you might learn something.” (see Tender)
Responsible. Kris makes sure Chia is fed her special meal every day at 5pm – sometimes 10-15 minutes earlier, but never later. He takes out the trash and the recycling regularly, without being asked, and always brings the trash containers in from the curb after pick-up.
Statistician. Kris can tell you exactly how many boxes of his clothing are still in the garage in Gresham: 469 thousand boxes, or maybe 673 thousand million hundreds. He has eaten at Taco Bell in Gresham 259 hundred thousand times. He has watched The Lawrence Welk Show 500 plus 345 thousand times. Kris likes the big numbers!
Sun Seeker. It doesn’t matter if it’s freezing outside or 101ยบ, Kris will find a sunny spot to soak up the rays. In the morning he sits in the living room where the sunshine comes in on the sofa. During the day he’ll stretch out on his chaise lounge in the front courtyard or the driveway and take a nap. In the late afternoon he’ll sit in a rocking chair in the bedroom with the west windows as long as there is sunshine streaming in. He also makes sure Chia’s bed is strategically placed so that she, too, can feel the warmth of the sun. (see – Tender)
Tender. Especially to little children and animals. I love being with him in a store because he catches the eye of most small children, and they will smile and talk to each other. I also see him looking at the family pictures on the walls when our children were young, and as soon as he realizes I’m watching him he will say, “My mother and I think your kids grew up too fast”. He will always let me know when there is something on TV about animals, especially dogs. If he thinks Chia isn’t getting treated properly (which is just about every time the phone rings and I tell her to stop barking – I know, a futile exercise), he will say, “Dogs have feelings too, you know!”
U
V
WWE’s Biggest Fan. ‘Nuff said.
Web-Toed, and very proud of it. Kris likes to tell people that he’s just like an Oregon duck!
Xenodochial. Don't look it up, it means hospitable and friendly to strangers. No one is a stranger to Kris. He will tell people in the check-out lines the latest family news. He will tell the server at the restaurant that he can't drink water because he's allergic, but he'll take a Dr. Pepper straight up.
 |
| People who have probably heard more about our family than we would want to know: Alma at the Old Clip Joint (who gives Kris a neck and back massage after every haircut), and Kelly at Coffee Emporium (where we go to get and give hugs and buy fabulous chocolate). |
Yogurt-Lover. To the point that we now write names on the tops of the yogurt so Kris won’t eat 8 cartons in one day. He also loves pudding, cheese, Sunny D, Ding Dongs, soup and York Peppermint Patties.
Zonked. Kris is a night-owl. Sort of. He turns off his TV and goes to bed by 10:30 or 11pm every night. Confession: the TV is programed to shut off by 11pm. If I am up later than that he is almost always sleeping soundly when I check on him. But it's obvious that he gets up during the night (unless we have a house elf who likes to do laundry and eat snacks). He also likes to sit in the rocking chair upstairs and watch out the window in the dark. As a consequence of these late-night activities I often find him fast asleep sitting straight up while he's watching TV in the middle of the day. He is asleep within 5-10 minutes of going somewhere in the car. A night owl who takes cat naps all day long!
