THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 24, 1995 TAG: 9511210153
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Over Easy
SOURCE: Jo-Ann Clegg
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
On the morning of his first birthday, Alexander William Clegg walked through our back door under his own power to begin a 36-hour visit that left one grandfather, one grandmother, two great-grandmothers and a Lhasa apso in a state of total exhaustion.
In a period of 17 seconds, he made his way through one laundry room, one large kitchen, the corner of one dining room and the length of two hallways into his grandmother's home office.
There he discovered an electric pencil sharpener into which he attempted to insert his index finger.
Timely dives by his father and grandfather left all digits intact and the inclination to explore other exciting objects in the 10 rooms he was viewing for the first time from an upright position.
Within five minutes every table-top item from the living room had been safely stashed on top of the piano, every knickknack in the family room had made its way to the mantle.
Still, Alexander, dubbed the Energizer Bunny by his grandfather, managed to wreak havoc on any number of family possessions in his quest to know everything know about every new item in his line of vision.
By the time his mother, who had to put in a full work day in Arlington while the bunny and his dad made the drive to Virginia Beach, arrived on the evening train, Alexander had:
Turned over the CD rack and sat on the floor giggling as 127 plastic cases crashed around his ears.
Pulled 17 books, 21 magazines and 42 catalogs from the lower shelves of the coffee and lamp tables.
Attempted to obliterate his finger tips on a cheese grater he found hanging in the kitchen.
Sampled the varying flavors of dried flowers in an arrangement on the dining room floor.
Munched on Purina One left over from the Lhasa's breakfast.
Taste-tested Snoopy-shaped cookie dough accidentally dropped into the Lhasa's bowl by his grandmother.
Tried four times to drink from the Lhasa's bowl.
Tried twice to check the interior of the dishwasher, the second time by crawling into it.
Offered his help to the computer guru who was installing new software in his grandmom's Mac and the technician who was preparing the furnace for the winter.
Offered to help his dad clean out the interior of the family sport utility vehicle.
Wandered through the hedge to visit with next door neighbor, Borrowing George, when the offer to his dad was also refused.
Been brought back in record time by Borrowing George, who exchanged him for a leaf rake.
Sampled seven different menu items at the Peking Duck restaurant, eaten half of each and deposited equal amounts of the remainder in his hair and on the floor.
Explored the offerings at Blockbuster Video from the safety of the pack attached to his granddad's back.
Fallen asleep, finally, in the backpack from which his dad and grandmother removed him, pulled off his shoes and deposited him in his crib.
It was there that his mom found him being watched over - more or less - by his exhausted grandmother and the equally exhausted Lhasa, who had been left behind to baby sit while his dad and granddad made the trip to the Newport News Amtrak station.
No one was complaining about having been left behind.
His mom gave him a good night kiss before falling into bed after her own exhausting day of work and travel.
His parents, grandparents and uncle slept until 8:30 the next morning. The bunny, on the other hand, was heard singing to himself in his crib at 7 - wide awake and ready to start on a new day of adventures. by CNB