I picked her up in the late afternoon.
I was tired and just wanted to go for a walk, start dinner, open a bottle of wine, relax – finally. But my daughter had called me in a panic earlier in the day: “Can you pick up Sophie from Russian math later today? I overbooked with the two boys.”
Being a woman who always wants to be a “good mom” and an even better grandmother, I said yes even before I asked “where?”
“Wellesley,” daughter answered in a voice seeped with guilt.
“Wellesley?” I groaned. Driving is not my favorite activity, particularly during commute time.
But I drove the back way, through Sudbury and Wayland and Weston onto Wellesley and found Washington Street and sat in the parking lot. My heart calmed as I listened to the soothing sounds of classical music.
Once when I drove my grandkids to some event – school concert? soccer match? – I changed my normal station to some clever pop music, thinking my grandkids would think me cool. The 7-year-old boy chimed in with disappointment, “I thought you listened to Beethoven, Madre.”
So much for being cool.
Five minutes into my reverie and a Bach prelude, 11-year-old Sophie bounced into the car.
“I’m exhausted, Madre,” she sighed. “Sixth grade is so different from fifth. We had a history test and it was…” she paused. “Can you pop your joint?”
“Umm,” I began, battling traffic as I followed my GPS directions.
I heard the cracking/crunching of Sophie’s ankle joint as she moved it back and forth. I tried to pop my left ankle as my right foot touched the brake. “Not sure this is a good idea for us, Soph,” I said as I made a right turn to avoid more traffic.
“Why? Will I get arthritis?” she asked. She brought out her cell phone and pressed buttons. “I’ll look it up.”
But then she looked up, out at the red and orange-leaved trees, the dusky pink-lavender sky and commented: “I love going home this way. You’re the best, Madre.”
If a smile is a joint, mine popped wide open.
(The Russian School of Mathematics is an after school program that provides advanced mathematics education for children attending K–12 schools.)
I like this.
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Thanks Anneli. Hope you’re having a joyful weekend!
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I am. And tnx again, Pam, for your referral to “AR.”
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You are a cool grandma!! I love conversations with kids this age. xo
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I always wish I had a small notebook next to me when I’m driving in the car with grandkids. The wisest/funniest/most delicious words come out. But I store the bon mots in my head – don’t want them to see me recording their every word. ;-0 🙂
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There’s nothing so enlightening as conversation with a child. I enjoyed this ‘flash’ of your life—thanks for sharing!
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So true! We learn so much about ourselves and the world when we listen to what a child has to say!
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Too many adults ignore the thoughts of little ones, when in fact children teach us many lessons.
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“From the mouth of babes,” is a long-used expression for a good reason. ❤
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Aw…special moments like this are priceless. ❤
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Just the cost of a couple gallons of gas. 🙂
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Once a mother always a mother. Message for Sophie: I used to pop my left thumb joint when I was younger. It is now swollen and stiff.
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I’ll tell Sophie, Derrick. She’s more likely to listen to you than to me! 🙂
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Isn’t that always the way? 🙂
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Just think…If you lived on the west coast you’d miss out on all these experiences!!! !
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So true. xo
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Seems the grandkids like grandma’s choices. What a beautiful version of Ode to Joy!
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Ode to Joy hits all of my inner buttons, Frank. Can’t listen to it without tears rolling down my face. To Joy!
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Thanks for the footnote at the end. I was going to ask what Russian Math was.
You are a cool grandmother – Beethoven or otherwise 🙂
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I was even going to call it just ‘math tutoring,’ but Russian math (and I don’t know the origination of the name) is an opportunity for GIRLS to keep apace (and further) with boys on math. Wish I’d had it when I was a kid.
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You’re a pretty cool Madre, but I think I already knew that. Have a super weekend. I do hope you get to relax with a walk and a bottle of wine.
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Long walk in the cold sunshine today, Amy, and a nice bottle of red waiting for later. 🙂 Hope you’re having good writing day, and then a cozy by-the-fireside evening.
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Sounds real. Is it real? If it’s real then you’re a cool grandma
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This story is entirely and unequivocally real. Which doesn’t necessarily make me a cool grandmother, but definitely one whose grandchildren’s antics and conversations will be written about from time to time for prosperity. 🙂
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And that’s cool too 🙂
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I used to love those conversations in the car with my daughters. How wonderful that you share these special times–and do that driving!
(I laughed because I got my older daughter hooked on a podcast that discusses all the ghosts and demons in Wellesley. So watch out!) 🙂
Thank you for the explanation of “Russian math.”
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So far I have not come across any ghosts in Wellesley, but many demons on the road!
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🙂
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I agree with the others that you are a cool grandma but I sort of already suspected that 🙂 Molly Finds Her Purr was delivered to my door yesterday! I love it! Very sweet book… I love dragonflies. Molly made me smile. Very sweet lessons learned in Molly finding her purr. The illustrations are sweet, too. Birds of Paradise on the way!
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I’m so excited (and happy) that you’ve received MOLLY FINDS HER PURR and love her story . . . as well as the dragonflies on every page. If you are so inclined, I’d be grateful if you wrote a short review on Molly’s Amazon page. We authors need those reviews so others will find the book.
Now, can’t wait to hear what you think of Bert and Bessie in BIRDS OF PARADISE!
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Dear cool Madre, I too know the pleasures of helping out with car pool: school, cross country practices, tuba rehearsal. Our grands are seldom chatty and cracking knuckles might happen, but not ankles.
As I tap out these words, I’m exulting to your Ode to Joy. Whatever generation walks in my car door may hear Mozart (or shriek-y Stravinisky) from me, low volume of course. Thanks for this and for the fascinating Molly Finds Her Purr I enjoyed this week. 😀
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I’m afraid the older the grandkids get, the quieter they become, so I’ll enjoy the chattiness as long as I can. Same with the cracking (jokes/knuckles/sibling’s heads – haha).
Here’s to our own ode to joy. And I’m so glad you’re enjoying MOLLY FINDS HER PURR! If you have a chance to review it on Molly’s Amazon page, I would be grateful. xo
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This is a charming story that made me smile. So much warmth in you and that child who is taking 6th grade in stride, popping along as it were.
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Listening to kids (of any age) helps put us back there, where they are, too. So much happens in 6th grade! I want to tell Sophie it gets easier, but that would not be the truth, would it? ;-0
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Thanks for the fun peek into your life as a grandmother. It sounds like you’re a wonderful grandma who’s cool for being herself. Now pop that joint! 🙂
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I wondered if anyone would comment about the title of this blog, Brad, particularly since “joints” are on the news so much. But with the younger set (grands) and the older set (not that I’m old, mind you), joints are relating to the body, for sure. 🙂
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I knew you were having fun with puns. I say smoke ‘um if you got ‘um!
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Special moments for a special lady!
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May each of our moments be special – from popping joints to humming Mozart to enjoying each other’s bon mots! ❤
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You are such a great grandmother and mother, Pam.
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I don’t know about great, Robbie, but I sure love the role of mom and grandmom. I know how much YOU enjoy the mom role too. Our most important one (and then writer comes next). 🙂
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Loved this… Such joy in our connection with our grandchildren.. and reading your post its obvious you are the joy in their lives too..
Beautifully written and loved your rounded ending … Perfect!! … ❤ ❤ ❤
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Thank you so much, Sue. I try to live by the theme of “Ode to Joy,” which I always hear in my head. (I know you live within this joy too.) Life is a constant hum, but we should realize there is a lot of meaningful crescendo in there too. ❤
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That comment melted my heart about you being the best. That certainly would any drive worth it:)
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The things we do for our kids/grandkids are never as great as the things our kids/grandkids do for us!
By the way, THANK YOU for your magnificent review of MOLLY FINDS HER PURR on Molly’s Amazon page. Yes, finding our purr is the same as finding our “inner spark.” ❤
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Oh, the wonders of it all… Grands! ❤
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And as long as we keep seeing/feeling/hearing the WONDER, we are grand. xo
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What could be GRANDER! ❤
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What could be better than spending time with grandchildren! You rock, lady!
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That’s a wonderful comment. Rocking with Beethoven, baby. 🙂 ❤
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❤
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Nice pop. Thanks for sharing.
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That’s cute, John. But may be pop no joints now that we’re over the age of, say 11. 🙂
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😀
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Sweet. Love those little moments with our kids and grandkids!
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And in between those moments, Jennifer, I finished reading Calmer Secrets! It was GREAT. I’ve reviewed it on Goodreads. Keep on writing those great books, my friend.
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Aw, thank you so much, Pam! It means the world to me that you took the time to read my books and that you enjoyed them. You are the sweetest! 💕
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I loved this!💕
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Thanks, Becky. Hope it will be your turn soon. 🙂
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You have have a Fifth of Beethoven to go with that “joint.”
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I’m taking your Fifth and it gives me great JOY. I forgot about this rendition and have always loved it. Thanks for including it here. You add so much to my blog joint, Nancy. 🙂
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Thanks, Madre!
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What a great share, Madre (I love that you are called this instead of Grandma). Perfect choice of music to showcase your joy at choosing the pretty route home with the good music and joint-popping child. Russian math, eh? I’m afraid to even ask what that looks like!
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It’s not about the destination, but the pretty route during the journey, right Dale? 🙂 You missed the explanation of Russian math under Beethoven. Here it is: (The Russian School of Mathematics is an after school program that provides advanced mathematics education for children attending K–12 schools.) It’s a great “equal opportunity” for girls to excel in math along with the boys. xo
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Absolutely! In my book, anyway .
No, I didn’t miss the explanation, I was just saying I’m wondering what this math looks like because you know how math evolves… It’s all Chinese to me now. ..😉
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Pam, you are the coolest Madre by being just YOU! Nothing like the wisdom and love from the young to make life comple and full of joy! So happy you included this Beethoven piece, my favourite and this played for my wedding as I entered, walking down the grand staircase and into the room! Happy Weekend, my friend! May it be full of popping smiles! 😀❤️
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I LOVE reading that Ode to Joy was your wedding song. How did you walk down that grand staircase without crying? (Ode to Joy makes me cry from beginning to end.) Maybe you DID cry those happy tears, and glistened with the glow of love and fabulous choice of music. 🙂
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Dear Pam, in answer to your question about the staircase, I was in ultra-concentration mode not to FALL down the steps. As I rarely wear high heels I had visions of an impressive tumble and broken limbs – nothing like that to focus the mind!😀 Once down I did cry a bit … my husband was so stunned when he saw me he stood still like a statue and forgot to take my hand! A gentle nudge from his best man ‘woke’ him up!😀 Thank you for reminding me of these special memories and letting me share. xx❤️
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Aww. You’re a wonderful mother and grandmother, Pam. What a sweet story. Some of our best moments may start off as a groan. There are opportunities to love everywhere.
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You, the writer, always knows how to describe something so succinctly and perfectly. “Some of our best moments start off as a groan.” I could make this into a bumper-sticker and put it on my car! (But I’d have to find room to give you attribution). ;-0 🙂 xo
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It’s that Sunwielder thing. You never know where the path will lead. 🙂
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🙂
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What a glorious memory. I spent quite a bit of time saying I’d never drive that far and then trying to talk myself into doing it–in concept.
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Glad to read that you’re with me in the whine of “do I HAVE to drive all that way?” With so much more traffic and so many more stressed drivers, it’s just no fun anymore. ;-( Here’s to staying in our writing chairs as often as possible. 🙂
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Thank you for explaining what “Russian Math” is. That was my first question.
I also agree — you are a very COOL Grandma!
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Well, I’m cool enough now to know what “Russian math” is. When I first heard about it, I had some rather sour remarks. But this extra math time really seems to help students – boys AND girls – to excel in math.
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I still hear the sound of my mother’s voice warning me when I used to crack my wrists constantly. Arthritis, bursitis, and all other kinds of itis were mentioned. To your credit, you let Sophie work that one on her own. Well played. 🙂 – Marty
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I’m smiling and patting myself on the back. Yup, sometimes the less said the better. (Particularly now that our youngers can check out the answers in Google – answers we always knew, but who believes US?) 🙂
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I loved how this story took a plan, played with it and made it better in the end. Your reluctance to engage in crazy traffic resonates. Thanks for the explanation. I still wonder at the origination of the name for Russian Math. I had to repeat third grade almost twice because I couldn’t learn times tables. Numbers dance in my head so i avoid them if at all possible. Your daughter is a good mom for getting the math need met. You are a good Madre for helping her.
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“Numbers dance in my head” – what a great way to explain why math doesn’t mingle well with many of us – those numbers just won’t stay still! 🙂
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Russian Math! That sounds rather impressive! My mum always drives the back way, if there is one. And if there isn’t, she’ll find it. This was so sweet, I felt like I was in the car with you both. xx
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Your mum has the right attitude: “always travel through the back roads.” A great idea figuratively and metaphorically. ❤
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Wonderful to have the ability to help our kids and grandkids and for them to think we are cool. 😊
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I’ll take the adjective of “cool” in front of Madre for as long as possible, Another year or two, I’m afraid “cool” will change to a roll in the eyes and “oh, that Madre!” I bet you’re enjoying helping out with your kids and grand. xo
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Joy in a moment. ❤
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Precisely, Jane. May we always sink into these precious moments. ❤
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Your granddaughter saying “You are the best” is so touching. Nothing better than that.
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You’re sweet to read about my little car ride. So little can make some of us so happy. 🙂
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Love that story and I have been there also…wrong time of day or I already had something planned. When the call comes though, I also go. I realize how short my time will be with these boys. They are growing so fast now…and car conversations are the best conversations…
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Car conversations are the best way for a parent/grandparent to find out what’s REALLY going on! 🙂
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You’re such a good grammy. ❤
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❤
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I get it on the good mom, an even better grandmother and a daughter in a voice seeped with guilt. On a weekly basis.
I love the witty 7-year-old boy. Likely takes after his witty Grandmother, Pamela.🙂
OMgosh, your last sentence made me smile and tear up, all at the same time. I get it.
I love your posts, Pamela. You capture the moments that truly matter.🙂
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When we focus on what really matters – the thoughts of a child, the rise of the moon, the bark of a hungry dog, the hug of a spouse, the laugh of a friend – then we can shut out the cacophony of all the nonsense blurting out from the unkind world. ❤
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Well said, Pamela🙂 I appreciate you are part of the incoming and outgoing good in this world💕
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My mind went somewhere else with the “pop a joint” comment, although for the life of me couldn’t imagine your young granddaughter saying that!! So nice “seeing you” if only for the breath of a story.
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We like these ‘breath of a story’ moments that pop our funny bone and make our heart tweak a bit in love. xo
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So wonderful! How many times have I felt inconvenienced or irritated only to learn that the effort I have put forth actually is appreciated by someone else. Those small moments turn out to be huge.
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Exactly, Kate. It’s the small (irritating) duties that can give the biggest rewards. xo
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And your choice of music and of journeys home are going to be the wonderful things they always think of when they think of you Pam!
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❤ And maybe my cookies too. 🙂
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Andrea – thank you for the beautiful review of MOLLY FINDS HER PURR. How sweet of you to read Molly’s story. ❤
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You’re very welcome, it’s a beautiful book!
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tx for the wit & wisdom, Pamela – when I read the title, thought you’d mean another sort of joint lol
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I’m afraid I used a word that would get everyone’s attention, but that’s the exact words my granddaughter used. Fortunately, she doesn’t know of any other kind of joint than that of those in her ankle and fingers. 😉
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