Gavin has been away for the better part of two weeks. He is really helpful around the house, picks up some slack for me now and then, can babysit Sean for me occasionally and other valuable tasks.

So why, while he’s away, is mind my experiencing a little vacation of its own?

Because Gavin talks. A lot. Like a lot.

He wants to talk, in depth, about the books he is reading, the ones we are reading together and the books he might read in the future. He does not have ‘summarize’ mastered yet or doesn’t prefer to convey the stories in that was. I get ‘the whole story’.

He wants to discuss current events and wants to discuss the history of the Gaza Strip, what happened during the cuban missile crisis and how HIV causes AIDS. He wants me to know how many men died during The Battle of Antietum and how it tied into the Civil War. He asks me what pasteurization and homogenization are and are they ‘good’ or ‘bad’. He wants to discuss what “Kosher” means. He asks me how grass seeds are spread and then wants to know if I want to watch a documentary called “Hitler’s Children” with him.

He asks if we can go to the arcade today, the beach tonight, and when can I find him another class where he can dissect something. He wants to know if I know of anywhere he can see cows butchered. He recounts facts, tons and tons of facts. Some vital and interesting and some – not so much. He asks me to guess how many calories are in a cup of Cheerios.

I call him factoid boy.

Most conversations include him letting you know the strongest, longest, oldest, and fastest…..whatever. If Gavin starts a conversation with you by saying, ‘I’ve been wondering…’ or ‘I was just thinking…’ – brace yourself. It’s going to be long.