Annie Rhiannon

Sunday, March 23, 2008

My Palindromic Nephew

Last week I went out for dinner with my palindromic nephew, Otto, to celebrate his sixteenth birthday. I can't believe he is sixteen already. I can't believe it so much that it's not until I arrive in Galway that I realise the present I bought him from the toy shop is "suitable for 4-8 year olds". Hmm.

Otto has always held a very special place in my heart, partly because I remember gently rocking him in my arms when I was just twelve years old, but mostly because his name is spelt backwards the same way it is forwards.

These days Otto has long hair, plays the guitar, and, in the Salthill restaurant we're eating dinner in, he smells suspiciously like hangover. I try to impress him by referring to Led Zeppelin as "Zeppelin" (as if I even know who they are), and I embarrass him by ordering my pasta in a beautiful Italian accent. (What?! I spent last week backpacking around northern Italy — I can't help it!)

It turns out the present I bought for him is "class" though, which means it's good — despite being suitable for 4-8 years olds. It's an American version of Connect Four, except instead of trying to get four of the same colour in a row you have to spell out the word "Otto". How class is that?

Happy sixteenth birthday, my palindromic nephew.

5 comments:

  1. I bet I know where you ate: Roberta's, right? That's some of the best Italian food I've ever had. I eat there every time I'm in Galway.

    Which is, like, twice, but I've got a long drive.

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  2. That was class! I'd get it for myself but my name's not Otto or Toot.

    And anyway, I don't know why they bother putting age ranges on boys toys. An age minimum maybe but no upper limit. 4-pension +; 8-retirement home +; 10-last words.

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  3. True! Bjarni is testament to that.

    Yes, it was Roberta's, the food was great. It's run by real life Italians, which is why I was speaking Italain to them. "Tagliatelle", I said.

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  4. Well, Annie, it was obviously the name Otto that misled you into the 4-8 range. Now if his name was Sedici....

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  5. Yay boys! We don't forget to have fun just because we have a few birthdays. ;-)

    Alright, alright, I'll go back to my coloring books now.

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