I took some flack for my last post because it appeared I was criticizing Omega for not knowing geography. That's not quite the way it is. I love that girl to death but frankly I am not at all sure that we share any DNA.
See, it doesn't matter that she was around this summer when Marial and I planned our Tahoe trip. Or that I talked about it oh, probably 13 bajillion times before we left. Or that she was around when all the preparations were made. No, in spite of all that apparent exposure, she never once thought to ask 'Where is Lake Tahoe?' I would bet that HAD she been taken along, she would not even have thought to crack a map along the way. And when we crossed that border and saw the big 'Welcome to California' sign, she would have been just as shocked as when she read that sweatshirt!
Maybe I'm just more curious than necessary. Maybe I'm too concerned about what's going down around me. I admit, I might have an overgrown nosy gene but how did I raise such an oblivious child?
Her new role as driver has given me a few more wrinkles. You cannot tell her to exit the freeway at 45th, go west to 23rd, and stop at H-boulevard. No, it has to be: exit off the fancy bridge, go down the hill, turn at the gas station with the big green sign, and stop right after the rickety fruit stand. Street signs? They're probably just for the mailman.
But her oblivity is not limited to geography. Omega has been very good friends with Rocki for over 3 years. Rocki's parents own a business. Omega has NO IDEA what type of business it is. I know what it is because I sat with Mr & Mrs Rocki at a banquet and the subject came up. It's not anything obscure or difficult to understand. I'm sure if Omega asked Rocki, she would tell her but, here's the part that baffles me, Omega has never thought to ask the question!! And she can't understand why she should care.
There were times when she would attend her sister's basketball games and appear to pay rapt attention to every play. She would cheer and shout encouragement to her sister, definitely following the action, but when asked what the final score was or *gasp* who even won, and she would just smile sheepishly.
One time when Alpha and Omega were about 8 and 6 years old, I demanded that one of them confess to some damage done in the bathroom. I told them that they couldn't play outside until I found out who did it. Omega finally confessed and off they went. As I stood by the bedroom window I overheard Alpha ask Omega why told me she did it. Omega's shocked response was "Didn't I?" No, she didn't, Alpha had done it but since she didn't jump in and own up to it, Omega assumed she must have done it herself... and forgotten.
As I've mentioned before, blonde or not, Omega is no dummy. She has a high school GPA that probably exceeds both Homer's and mine put together. She has no problem recalling complicated dance routines and can recite mathematical equations with the same practiced rote of a hockey mom in a national debate. Just don't ask her when the election is or where she and her friends went for dinner last night because not only might she not know the answers but she will look at you pitifully and wonder why your life is so empty that you would care.
She may have a point there but I think I have determined that Omega runs her head like she runs her life. Her bedroom is virtually clutterless. Not to say it's clean but everything that's in her closet or on her floor or draped over the bed is something she needs and uses. If something doesn't fit or just doesn't please her, she will pack it up and give it away. Toys? Long gone. Memorabilia? Forget it. The girl even has one totally empty dresser drawer. I know! She should totally be forfeiting her woman-card.
So maybe that's it. Maybe she just tosses everything out of her head that she doesn't need. I guess that's cool... for her. But I still think I might've brought home the wrong baby. Anyone out there have a 16-year-old tall, goofy, clutterish daughter that doesn't fit in their family?
If so... too bad for you.
