Now please don’t start calling welfare agencies inquiring about the Trujillo family — at least not without letting me explain.

You see, we raised three boys, and that translates to a lot of rough-housing. We made up games which we called “Pay-Dirt,” “Jump the Gun,” “Balance,” “100 Percent” and “Bone Crusher.”

Some of the titles are self-explanatory, except for jumping the gun; we’ve never owned firearms and used the “jumping” metaphor in the sense of a track meet, when a runner starts the race before the starting gun and gets disqualified.

One of the games consisted of my crouching on our king-size bed and having each of the three sons jump on the bed.

Using feet and arms, I’d try to prevent their climbing upon the bed — tough feat and feet, especially with three boys.

Some rounds ended with all four of us sprawling on the floor.

Another game caused my youngest son, Benjie, to flip on the bed and twist his neck. It may sound scary, but kids do more than that just playing in the grass.

Benjie at the time owned a turtleneck sweater, the collar of which he would raise up to his ears, giving the appearance of a l-o-n-g neck. Days later, he walked into my room zombie-style and said, “You broke my neck.”

He paused. “And I don’t appreciate it.”

Immediately, I pondered his choice of words. “Appreciate”? I explained that when someone blows smoke in our face, we tell the offender we don’t appreciate that bit of puffery. If someone cuts us off in traffic or beats us to the parking space we knew was ours, we tell that person that we don’t appreciate it.

But a broken neck? First, let’s make certain you understand there was absolutely no injury. Benjie’s declaration was merely cosmetic, ironic, fantastic and exaggeratic. But I loved his choice of words, as if he were to explain, “Ya know that rough-housing we did? Well, you broke my neck in the process. I had it fixed today at the doctor’s office. . . . But I still don’t appreciate it.”

Benjie chose a word that has, in my opinion, three distinctly different meanings. His sense of the word was simply that the broken neck wasn’t very nice.

“Appreciate” also refers to understanding, getting the grasp of the issue. If I were to answer Benjie with, “I appreciate the extent of your injuries,” I’d be using a second shading of the term, in the sense of acknowledging that the neck broke but not implying gratitude.

But then, what if Benjie were to say that he didn’t have the $30 co-pay when he visited the doctor and the doc would raise the fee by five bucks a week, until he paid, we’d be talking about still another meaning of “appreciate,” in the sense of inflation.

Now in his mid-30s, Ben still mentions the broken neck — whenever he puts on a turtle-neck. But fortunately, he doesn’t expect or request my long-winded treatise on “appreciation.”

• • •

Getting my fill of very affordable books at last week’s AAUW book sale at Sala de Madrid, I ran into an acquaintance eyeing a mountain of books along the east wall. They were offered at 10 for a dollar. They were mostly paperbacks, fiction, mystery. He asked no one in particular, “What if I want to buy just one?”
Well that’ll be a dollar. “What about five?” Still a dollar.

The offer was up to 10 books for a dollar, so if you take just one, it’s not 10 cents; it’s still a dollar.

That sale section turned out to be a hit. In fact, the entire sale was successful, as the local AAUW took in about $3,000, according to Carol Winkel. That’ll go to fund college scholarships.

And, we might add, it’s for a great cause. Not only does it help people reach their dream of a helping acquire a college education, but the circulation of thousands of books helps to quench people’s thirst for literacy.

• • •

As a long-time consumer of Girl Scout Cookies, I’m usually agreeable to buying a box or two during their annual sales. The girls use the profits for worthwhile projects. I applaud that.

Several years ago, a fellow employee went to each office at Mortimer Hall to announce that his daughter was selling Girl Scout Cookies. “And if you need any, see me; I deliver.”

Whatttt? When he came to my office with his pitch, I said, emphatically, “Absolutely not!”

Then I gave my usual spiel, explaining that if his daughter were to approach me, look me in the eye, explain the kinds of cookies available, and tell me the price, I’d be happy to make a purchase.

She did. That afternoon, she looked me in the eye, did all the requisite things, and made a sale. Now all of that ceremony was and still is designed to let the scouts themselves handle the transaction, including making change. Let’s let the girls develop a modicum of leadership rather than having adults take over the show.

Notice how much happier kids seem when allowed to do things on their own. And that applies to youth athletics and other activities.

Thursday, as I was leaving Wal-Mart, I walked by a Girl Scout stand, knowing I’d be invited to make a purchase. I asked no one in particular, “Who’s the youngest scout here. Kaylee Trujillo stepped forward.

I gave her the usual spiel about eye-contact, clear communication, price, etc. She complied. I asked her which varieties of cookies she liked the most. She identified two kinds, which I bought. I paid her and felt good about the transaction — handled by a child, not her parent.

Kaylee’s mom, Christina Chavez, was with her at the booth in front of the store, with other parents, who appeared to want the girls themselves to conduct the business.

It’s great when adults allow kids to become young entrepreneuers.

Disclaimer: Although Kaylee Trujillo and I have the same last name, we’re not related.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *