Well, those of you who were asking for updates on how things go with my nephew will be happy to know that you are about to get your wish. :-)
Michael moved in right on time, and yes, he did bring a few clothes in addition to all the electronics. He also brought his own chair (which squeaks), a large-screen TV, a mini refrigerator, and enough cords, adapters and wires to cover Manhattan!
Well, his very first weekend with us was at the end of August, when I made another trip up to Clearlake to visit my mom. I got about ten minutes from home when my "check engine" light came on, and the engine heat gauge was all the way at maximum! Needless to say, I got off the freeway and drove carefully home through the city streets. Michael was kind enough to drive his own car over to the shop so that I'd have a way home if they needed to keep my van.
Turns out that the coolant leak I've had for months was from a crack in the radiator, and even though we'd been keeping the coolant filled, it was causing air bubbles to go through the engine, so hot spots happened. I ended up buying a new radiator ($400).
However, they wouldn't have the work finished until the end of Saturday, and I had no way to get up to my mom's. So Michael offered to drive me up and bring me home the next day. What a sweetie! He was even talking about finding a motel room for himself, but my mom has a perfectly good rental house, so he stayed there with me. Fortunately, he was able to get WiFi service up there, so he was even got his homework done. :-)
I really enjoyed the weekend, and we got to know each other a bit better. Michael just turned 18 in July, but he seems very mature for his age. Of course, he was raised mostly by his grandmother and uncle, who are about 86 and 60 this year, so that probably accounts for some of it. He has a very upbeat and friendly disposition, although I think from what he's said that he is rather shy socially, which I certainly can relate to! And his best friend is a girl, which tells me he looks at more than just the outside of a person, and doesn't have a lot of macho ideas.
Anyway, I just wanted to share this, and to say that I have to laugh when I think about the two of us going to the store together. We must make a very interesting pair, the older goth and the young hipster geek! ;-)
It seems that he arrived just in time. Things have a way of working out for the best when we least expect it.
ReplyDeleteThey certainly do! And I'm extremely grateful.
DeleteHe sounds like a good kid (can I call him a kid as I am ten years older, lol?) Glad he has been helpful!
ReplyDeleteYes, you can -- he IS a good kid!! And I'm glad we've been able to help each other out. It's a nice feeling. :-)
DeleteHe sounds like a poppet. Watch out for the cables breeding though, I live with one of these tech guys and the cables take over the world!
ReplyDeleteOoh, that's a good word for him, hehe! And yes, I've heard about those nasty breeding cables (like my husband's stuff that breeds like rabbits and spreads like ground ivy), but so far all has been quiet in there. Perhaps he's had his cables "fixed"!! ;-)
DeleteHe does seem pretty mature for an 18 year old ... maybe this won't be as bad as I'd imagined! lol
ReplyDeleteSeriously, you thought it would be bad? Well, I have to admit that if I hadn't already met him a few times as a teen, I would have been more hesitant myself! And although I hate to say this, in certain ways he is more mature than my son, who is approaching 26. But hey, we're all different! :-)
DeleteSounds like a good experience so far! Have fun and share your tales :)
ReplyDeleteYes, it is! I missed having my son at home; Michael is a different person, of course, but it's almost like having Stuart home again. :-)
Delete