my first trip to balzac, by seung yi

Howdy, y'all! Just got back from the prairies and from meeting my great grampa. Mum only took me for four days. She said something like, "Mumble, mumble, grumble, Indian consulate, mumble, mumble." I think she had to get back so she could eat barfi at Grampa's party for his friends from school. That's my theory. Ji taught me the word 'theory'. Uncle Turner taught it to him, and now I know it too!

Balzac was fun. I didn't go see the goats or chickens this time. It wasn't very cold (and I had my hat) but Mum wanted to relax inside and not stuff me into my snowsuit. I don't like my snowsuit. In fact, it drives me crazy. It immobilizes me. I can't possibly stuff my fist in my mouth when me arm is encased in three inches of puffy fluffy coat. I'd rather freeze! So: we stayed inside mostly. Oompa (my great grampa!) is just as perfect as my Tai Ma (my great gramma in Toronto!). They are both always as sweet as cherry pie and they make funny faces at me all the time. If only they could see themselves in a mirror, they would laugh till they fell over. The one big difference between them is that Tai Ma only has a top set of false teeth and Oompa has a full set. But he never wears them. So actually, he looks just like me! But with more hair.

His house is great. It's sunny and comfy and cozy. I liked lying around on the couch and the bed in the sunshine. Mum puttered around alot, making endless cups of tea for herself. Something about how her gramma used to drink tea makes her drink tea too. Funny. Oh, and I forgot to tell you! Grampa was in Balzac too! He met us at the airport and drove us to the farm. Later that evening we went to a Dutch-style pancake house. They spell pancake funny. Like pankoeke or something. But the pancakes sure looked great. We went with Oompa's neice, Ruth, her husband George, and their grandson Scott. Scott is so adorable! I want a boyfriend just like him when I'm in grade seven. Don't tell my Mom or Pa. They tell me I can't have a boyfriend. Ever. Mum says that eventually she'll arrange a marriage for me and my Pa says he's not going to ever let any boy woo me, ever, no matter what. They're such fuddy duddies! I already have a crush on Justin Timberlake, so there!

The next day Grampa cooked a feast for us and Uncle Robby and Auntie Shirley and also Auntie Ashley and Sloaner! I love, love, love Sloane. She is, like, my oldest friend. And she is so cool. She can talk! She says stuff like "Cookie Munster!" She is soooo smart. After we stuffed ourselves with food we went over to Sloane's house for a sleepover. Sloane let me try her Jolly Jumper. I got a little whizzy and dizzy while Mum drank white wine. Shh! Don't tell the La Leche League, but I like a little nip in my nips, if y'know what I mean. I also got to play with Sloane's electrical toys and she gave me a whole bunch of the most beeeeyoooteeeful clothes. I look like I was on Baby Makeover. I rock.

If you want to see what things in Balzac were like, check out the pictures Mum took. They're all retro and black and white and stuff. Cool. You can also see a video of me sucking my thumb. Sloane might think I'm a biter, sucking my thumb so much just after meeting her, but I started doing it the day before we saw each other, so I'm just as much of an independent thumb sucker as her. If not moreso!

Luv XX OO SY

[Seung Yi-18-December-2006]