I'm Talking Here

Conversation dynamics can be tricky for normal people to understand, follow, and master. Conversational turn taking is an art. Evan doesn't always follow the right time to interrupt, to volunteer new information, or to just listen.

Sometimes I will be talking with another person and Evan will interrupt a couple of times. After 3 times, I will ask him to not interrupt. Apparently, I do not do this softly enough or in a way that models how to do it properly. At a later time, if I interrupt his conversation according to proper Western conversation rules and when my information is needed, Evan will correct me and say, "excuse me, I am talking here!"

Once he and I were having a conversation and he was in the middle of a point when I interrupted him. He said, "hey, I'm talking to Brigham here!"

Dad's Socks

I bought Evan new socks from Costco. Knowing that a number of his current collection have holes in them, I started going through his sock drawer to find 7-8 socks to throw away.

Then I found one of my missing church socks. And then another. And another.

Stealing dress socks from me! Who does he think I am?! Our Dad?!

Why were we on time to church today?

Because our ward runs at the same time as another (combining Sunday Schools), we start at 8:50am. Normally, Sacrament Meeting starts and ends on the hour. Our ward in DC sometimes started on the half-hour. But 10 minutes early is just a hard concept to remember.

Perhaps Evan thinks it is me using one of my oft-used ploys to get us on time by saying we need to leave earlier than we really do. Perhaps my brother just wants to sleep in more. He wishfully asks when we are going to switch meeting times, like we've done in the past, but the Boston YSA wards do not rotate every year. Evan, normally a punctual man, seems to forget that we really do start at 8:50 and not 9am. We leave home closer to 8:40 or 8:45 and even though there is no traffic, there is no chance of us getting there on time.

As a result, we have arrived early to church twice since we moved here in September. One of those days was today. And the reason was Institute.

Evan loves Institute. It is a key part of his Wednesday schedule. He has been attending it since he went to BYU and he loves being able to choose his teachers and the subjects. Evan comes more prepared than any other student - he has his physical scriptures, the student manual for the course, and a notebook to take notes.

After institute a month ago, I saw Evan talking with his instructor. The brother asked for the make-up lessons and Evan gave them to him. I didn't know Evan needed to do so; I didn't know why he needed to do so. Turns out, Evan has attended enough institute classes that he qualified from a diploma, if he passed this most recent class. With his own initiative to complete the work, he made this achievement.

And today was the day for the diploma to be presented in Sacrament Meeting. So we were not late to church. The Bishop called Evan to the front, said a few words, and the boy was pleased as punch.

I didn't take a picture in the chapel. The boy could not stop smirking. He was very proud. I took a quick pic before Priesthood and he was still smiling.

Texts

Evan is really quite skilled at texting. It is all the more impressive because he has a flip phone, so he has to push each button multiple times accurately.

Lately I have had the random thought that it might be enjoyable to translate a short poem or story from Greek or Spanish into English. I haven't done it yet, but here is my attempt to translate Evanic into English.

Original text: Armoex gomez book sooccer math mual gosple mual. Free to me.
Translation: On Amazon, buy a Selena Gomez and soccer book, and a math manual, and a gospel doctrine manual for me for free.

Original text: You go to new york see taylor suift court yes or no text time
Translation: Are you going to New York City? Will we see a Taylor Swift concert? Text me what time the concert is.
Back story: NYC tourism has put up ads in all of the bus stops that feature Taylor Swift's song "welcome to New York" and other phrases. Evan's been on a Taylor Swift kick lately.

A Bad Haircut

I have been cutting Evan's hair since I got back off my mission. He seems satisfied with the results, but loves the independence of going to a barbershop on his own, telling the guy how short he wants it, and paying himself.

Sitting across the table from Evan at lunch I noticed that his bangs were crooked. Like really crooked, one side a good centimeter above the other.

Me: Evan, did you cut your hair?
Evan: No, I went to the barber.
Me: Why is one side crooked, shorter than the other side?
Evan: Like this? (he says while holding his hands tilted 45-degrees)
Me: Yes.
Evan: Oh cool. Haha! Like Parker! Haha (he says while smiling and running his fingers through his hair like it's a luxurious mane)

No Goodbyes

Evan doesn't like saying, "Goodbye." Now to be honest, neither do I. Instead of trumpeting my departure to all present, I prefer to just slip out quietly from a party. My Irish Exit or French Leave probably annoys some people, but I guess the point is that I understand the emotion that could be behind Evan's baffling behavior:

Normally, at the end of a phone call, Evan just hangs up. No "goodbye." No "see you later." Nothing. I always have to look at the phone and see that the call ended a few seconds ago to know we had finished talking. But lately he has started ending his calls with a "love you" or a "see you soon." It has been lovely.

Movies in General

Evan loves seeing movies in the movie theater.

He believes that the opening date is THE day to the see the movie. If it comes out May 2nd, then by golly, we should be there on May 2nd ready to watch the newest Marvel/Michael Bay/Jackie Chan film. It is the date on the trailers and posters!

Since Evan likes to make plans for the future, he mentions movie release dates, where we will be, and who we will see them with. Thankfully, many movies are released around major holidays when Evan's other siblings are around who like to see these movies more than I do.

I think Evan likes movies so much because he becomes totally enveloped in the action. When Evan watches movies, it is virtual reality. Immersed in the story he throws punches, dubs lines, and lives in the film. But he hates 3D and IMAX.

Marriage

May 1st is my parents anniversary. I sent them a text.

Evan somehow found out too. Maybe he remembered. He's pretty good at these kinds of things and thinks they are important to remember and celebrate.

He came up to me at home and said the following:

Mom and Dad got married! Have you heard of it? Have you told Blair or Mackey?

Avengers 2

In my greatest act of selfless service and kindness so far in the month of May, I organized a group to go see Avengers 2 so Evan could see it. After helping coordinate the theater, time, and ensuring it would not be 3D, it didn't seem appropriate for me to back out over the little fact that I hate Marvel movies.

Evan loved the movie. He couldn't stop smiling afterwards. His favorite character was "speedy" - his nickname for Quicksilver, who has flash-like abilities. And Captain America, of course.

As we were driving home after the movie, Evan and I chatted in the car.

Evan: I need Avengers number 2 poster
Me: Ok. We can see about that.
Evan: You can buy it tomorrow.
Me: But tomorrow's Sunday.
Evan: Yep.
Me: But it's the Sabbath Day. We shouldn't buy things.
Evan: Ok. Monday.

Evan is expectantly looking forward to Ant-Man, Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy 2, the new Spider-Man trilogy, Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War Part 1, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Infinity War Part 2, and Inhumans. And of course, any other Marvel Cinematic Universe films they decide to make for Phase IV and release in 2020 and beyond. Oh, and then there's all of the DC Cinematic Universe films too: Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Justice League Part One, The Flash, Aquaman, etc, etc, etc.