"...But I've never flown a single one during class."

(The old stand-by yellow school library book that I have seen for 3 years now- at least montly- and he's so happy that the library obtained a "completely different" one. "I told the librarian that she does buy good books." )

Three years ago, Bruce found a book, "How to Make Paper Airplanes" and thought it would make an excellent Christmas present for Eric. I agreed- we were hopeful that it would merely be a short-term cure for his default to the TV for entertainment.

Eric devoured it, not stopping to eat, play, listen, talk, or sleep until every last plane was mastered. He would occasionaly emerge with a finished product. "This one is called the Nakamuralok", or "Do you like how the swashbuckler turned out?" And I would nod my head, examine it carefully, and repeat the name. And then he woul test it for me, tell me to wait while he "adjusted the dihedral angle" and then I would watch in amazement as it would fly in the intended pattern. I told him to save it in his desk. (repeat: in his desk. )

How quickly amazement turns to irritant. Planes are everywhere! Everywhere, I tell you! The large twig wreath in the entryway- has an airplane in it (and a rubber band)(and a marshmallow, but those are stories for another day). Under the piano, on the mantle, near the front door, crammed in his cubby, under the couch, resting on top of the kitchen cabinets, in Nathan's toybox, behind my bed- planes. I opened his desk that Dad salvaged from the success center and found that his desk "runneth o'er" with planes. No church program escapes the building without being turned into the miniature version I have seen on the floor somewhere. Guess what you find if you open his backpack? Yes, finished assignment airplanes. No less than twenty. It is like I could make an Alfred Hitchcock movie--"the Planes".

So when Eric performed his airplanes for the talent show during the reunion two years ago, you all told me it was "just a phase", and Ruth said how I'll miss it someday. Aren't phases supposed to last only for a couple of months?

It continues on. He has taken his friends under his wing and shown them how to make "some of the easier ones". In return, his buddy taught him how to make one that he " wouldn't have even known existed!" The five-year-old neighbor wants a plane, and Eric scratches his head and runs down to get a fresh sheet of computer paper to oblige him. Okay, it really is sweet- I think it's called "interaction with others" that it is teaching him, too. So maybe all this isn't so bad, if it teaches him about interaction.

So, how to keep the memory alive was my task for last week.

Eric rounded up a bunch of planes for me and I crafted a mobile of airplanes for Tots. Because Tots needed a reason to linger longer in his bed.

See how gracefully they dangle in the air? The shadows are mesmerizing, elongating their shape once they reach the corner. And these'll never fall on the floor or get caught in my wreath where they ought not, the good little planes...

And in the end, it's all about keeping love for eachother and respecting the talents of everyone, verdad?

Speaking of loving everyone, I loved having you all at conference on Sunday. Especially the food. And Lincoln. And the cute teenagers. And Jenny's poppy seed cake. And Spencer's sweet note to me on my white board. And Amanda's carefully written conference notes from "Boyed K Paker" talk. And a surprise visit from Brooke! Conference should come more often...