Brooks Family

I'm trying to convince myself that you guys will think this is even remotely worth reading.



It's just that there are so many Eric stories, it's hard to choose which one to pass along to you. Most of them are just a one sentence story: Eric hates to practice the piano, but loves to have it done before school (not kidding). Eric's getting good on his ripstick. Eric washes his hands at LEAST 30 times a day. Umm, what else- Oh, I think I've heard every joke invented from Eric (and now Caleb, but that doesn't go along with the "theme" so he only gets an honorable mention).



But tonight Eric annoyed me SO bad.



Situation:



Stake Women's Conference tonight @ 7:00, Bruce working until 9 or 10. Eric willing to tend for me. I didn't give Tots a nap so he'd be ripe-n-ready for bed by 6:45- and he has this thing lately that when it's dark, he automatically strips down & puts his pj's on & brushes his "teef". He did this at 6:15, so I was pleased as punch.





As if punch is ever pleased, but whatever.



Before leaving, I warned Eric (with all the big-gun mother threats I could contrive) not to call me except in a severe emergency: blood. vomit. diarrhea. fire. near-death. "I will be in the chapel, probably in the middle, listening to a speaker, so DO NOT CALL ME."



Back up:



Lately- like for the last year, when I leave to do a quick errand, I'll get no fewer than one call every ten minutes from him, "Is it okay if I read now?" or, "I didn't quit playing the game exactly when you told me." or, "I gave Nathan some more goldfish". Drives me completely crazy with his lame reasons to call.



So the moons and stars line up & I make it to the mtg just before the opening song. My heels sound like hammers on the wood floor, but I see an empty seat and sit down.



ahhhhhhh, freedom. May the spirit fill me up tonight.





Listen to the speaker- Chad Hawkins, who draws and paints temples for the church. I thought he'd be old, but he's a really really young guy. He looks like a fresh RM, but I read his Bio- 5 kids, married in 1996. Hmmm, that could be me and Bruce, but Bruce don't draw. He talks of "secret" little messages incorporated into each temple picture, some obvious, some



bbbbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. bbbbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. bbbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.



Crap, that's my phone! It's only 7:20! For the love of all things holy! I refuse to answer.





and back to that cool drawing, a Salt Lake Temple in which he wants to show that your body is a temple and can you see how the trees are arranged at the base of the temple so as to look like the palm of the hand holding the temp





bbbbbzzzzzzzzzzz. bbbbbbbbbzzzzzz.





Well, I guess he waited 15 minutes between the 1st and second call. What if Kara slipped and fell and is bleeding profusely or Nathan is having a violent reaction to the less than healthy dinner he consumed, or ? I have to know. Plus, he said he'd call only in an emergency. Excuse me, pardon me, clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk to the door.



Eric, are you okay?



Yes, mom. But two things: um, you know the big plant that is downstairs by the tv? I think that it is pretty much dead.





At this point I am feeling like Wiley Coyote- smoke coming out my ears, ready to explode.





Are you kidding, this is what you called me for?









(You said to call if there was a near death.)




So. What do you think a good punishment would be?