11/9/05
ANOTHER CHARM IS ADDED

oddities, observations, and opinions
by Herb Kandel


She was about five years old. She sat in the passenger seat as I drove. “Daddy, what’s that noise?” she asked. “What noise.” “That clicking sound.” “Oh, that’s my turn signal. I’m letting the driver behind me know that I’m going to make a left turn.” She thought for a moment, looked up at me with a wide grin and mischievous glint in her eyes that seemed to say ‘you’re trying to fool me and I caught you’, and said, “ I know that he can’t hear it from way back there.” I realized then that she had utilized the theory of cause and effect to form a logical conclusion, although somewhat flawed because of lack of all the information. That was about 25 years ago and I think that from that time on few people have ever fooled Vicki.
As a baby she exhibited the trait of empathy. She has a twin sister and would invariably join in the crying whenever her sister started. When they were separated into different classrooms the first day at school tears formed rivulets down her cheeks. They also seemed to have a language known only between them.
I recall a still night, she was about 6 years old, which was shattered by her screeching. She had had a nightmare. She sat bolt upright shivering and insisted that there was an elephant under her bed. It took a long time consoling her and for her to accept the fact that the "elephant" had gone before she went back to sleep ( I think she even had one eye open in case it returned). Assurances that proved true gave her the sense of trust and goodwill.
For several years she wore dental braces. That along with the trips to the orthodontist taught her the rewards of patience.
When she played clarinet in the school band she realized the time spent in practicing paid off. Perseverance was learned going through the hills and valleys traversing those musical scales.
She was ‘chubby’ as an adolescent but in her later teen years trimmed down and toned up. This process was one we used to call stick-to-it-tivity, setting a goal and attaining it by sheer effort. During that transition , on her own, she competed in a local pageant, not the winner but willing to try. From this experience she gained the respect of fellow competitors. We knew that her self-esteem was intact.
High school and college were finished in a seeming blink of an eye. She earned a degree in , what else for a logical mind, engineering and had her pick of several job offers upon graduation.
Again, with self assurance and by herself, she bought a house while still in her early twenties. She assumed the responsibilities of its upkeep and maintenance. This done not only to provide a residence but with the prospect of it being a sound investment. Her foresight using practical business sense proved her right when she later relocated for “a job offer she couldn’t refuse” and profited by it.
Twelve years after graduation and two jobs later, with ever increasing responsibilities along with job titles, she met, fell in love, and in 2003 married a fellow engineer.
This past October 21 she experienced motherhood as Courtney Isabella weighed in at 5pounds 7ounces and 19 inches long. Courtney joins her cousins Jordan, James, Sydney, Tori, and Madeline of Aunt Lisa and Uncle Bill by becoming the sixth grandchild and adding a precious charm to this linkage of life.
We know that Courtney is in good hands for if history repeats she will have much innate insight. Her loving care, guidance, and well being are assured from parents and family. One can only hope that the worst that may befall her is finding an “elephant” beneath her bed and not knowing where the clicking in the car is coming from.