Declan Says the Darndest Things

“Oh, Declan,” I say with a smile, “You are the best.  You stole my heart.”

Declan stops jumping on his trampoline and looks at me in confusion.

“Why would I do that?  You would be dead if I did that.”

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“Stop it!”  Declan yelled at his older brother, who was playfully jabbing him in the cheek.

“Stop what?” Bobby asks, and like any good older brother, touches Declan’s cheek again.

“Stop that!” Declan returns with eyes wide, “You might miss my cheek and knock my contacts out!” 

Bobby and I look at Declan in confusion.

“Declan,” I say, “You don’t wear contacts.”

“YES, I DO!  SEE?” He asks showing us his eyes open wide.

And before we can think of a reply, off Declan huffs with his device in hand.

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“Does anyone see the sloth?” I ask as we walk through the rainforest room at the aquarium.

All our eyes look up to scan the tops of the trees to search for the lazy sloth.  As our eyes move to the right and then to the left, we see a tropical bird fly by.

“AAAAAHHHHHH!”  Declan yells “It’s a bird!!  I am ALLERGIC to birds!!  I’M ALLERGIC!!”

Declan covers his head as I take his arm, to speedily slink him through the crowds.  I smile as I look at the bird and wonder how long Declan has had this allergy?

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At the same aquarium, we stop to peruse the numerous jellyfish tanks.

Declan stops in front of one to watch the magnitude of jellyfish glow and swim their mesmerizing way around their tank.

Declan gives a big sigh and whispers, “These really are my most favorite spineless invertebrate.”

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In church I thoughtfully listen to the minister deliver her message about the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, and suddenly feel a tap on my shoulder.

I look to Declan who looks inspired and whisper, “What’s up?”

“Did you know the Brachiosaurus weighed over 70,000 kilograms?”

To deliver the magnitude of his message, Declan opens his mouth in wonder and awe.

“Wow!  That is a lot!” I reply, to which Declan nods his head and sits back in the pew to continue his mental travels in the world of dinosaurs and their details.

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 I walk into the room to find Declan laughing hysterically.

“What’s so funny?”

“Just look!”

On his device he is watching a commercial where penguins run and start to fly.

When the penguins begin to hit the air, Declan doubles over in laughter.

“Yes, this is pretty funny,” I say with a curious nod.

“PENGUINS CAN’T FLY!  This is HILARIOUS!”

And I leave him to watch the video on repeat for the next few hours, to laugh hysterically each time the penguins take flight.

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 Declan can really make me smile.

When Bobby and Catelyn were younger, I used to try to write down all the fun things they said so I could go back to them later for a smile.  Every so often I find one of my notes – and sure enough – I am taken back to the moment they were said, smile and chuckle again.

I am happy to get some of the recent Declan sayings written down.  Because I think these are going to give me smiles for years to come 😊