2016
May 21, 2016
One place Chloe really cleaned up was ballet recitals. Following in Faith’s footsteps, Chloe enrolled in ballet classes at around 5 years old. They had a full row of cheerleaders (and bouquets) for most performances.
JUne 6, 2016
One thing Chloe and I always had in common was time spent at our grandmother’s. Though for different reasons, Chloe and I relied on our grandmother (‘s drivers license) for childcare. We spent days through the summer in the guest room of her duplex.
The antique floral sheets would follow us. First in our grandmother’s marital home in rural Arlington, TX, where our parents were born are raised. Then to a duplex out west, and eventually a retirement community on the other side of town.
JUne 6, 2016
It’s funny how many images were made of Chloe in their backyard. The trampoline was a Christmas gift that kept on giving, as was the swing set. Their backyard nestled safely in the suburbs had room for a porch-style bench and a horse-shaped tire swing, tied on opposite branches of the same tree.
The bench was nice because we could sit together, even with a dog (mine or Chloe’s). But the tire swing was fun because you could push someone so high, the thing might have flipped over if there weren’t horse-ear-shaped handlebars to hold. The sound of the rope scratching against weathered tree bark is bookmarked with the memory.
July 4, 2016
For a while, Christmas and 4th of July were the only days I was sure I’d see Chloe and Faith. To this day I associate both holidays with horseplay among the cousins. We’d play make believe games in the pool and watch fireworks from the grass after the sun went down. The adults spent the day inside getting three sheets to the wind and the cousin ran wild.
We ate peanut butter pretzels and cookies from a bear-shaped jar. We fought over who got the googles and who had dripped all over the bathroom. If we needed something, we huddled and sent Chloe, the youngest, to go ask for it like a diplomat.
September 24, 2016
Chloe had more attitude per square inch than most American children. I’m not sure if it’s genetic, or rather the destiny for the youngest of a half dozen cousins. But on this day I really noticed. Watching Chloe play and marvel with what little makeup I had at 16 was like watching a garden bloom.
C: Does this mascara have glitter in it?
S: Yes! I got it at a birthday party.
C: So why don’t you wear it every day?
December 31, 2016
Time spent with Davis and Chloe was a different kind of special, rare. Though further apart in age than Faith and I, they were the two youngest; I saw the recognition is Davis’ eyes that they’d be the last ones left after I was gone.
Chloe loved him the whole time, shimmering in his affection made all the sweeter by scarcity. When Davis was frustrated by Chloe’s demanding youth , they clung to him around the calves until he couldn’t walk.