And to think I knew you when

My dear friend was recently exposed for the trouble-maker he is. And he is a huge trouble-maker. He's also one of the funniest people I know, and mostly because he isn't trying to be funny. I never knew him as a young man, so I can't say he turned 50 and lost his filters. From our mutual acquaintances, I suspect it is safe to say that he is as God made him. Not only has he been a great friend, he has been a continual fan of my family's life and has lent support in more ways than I can enumerate.

He has known Lauren since she was a speck on an ultrasound film, back when we referred to her as The Munchkin. She spent the better part of her first year hanging out in his office. And because (or perhaps in spite of) they share the same birthday, he has always had a great affection for her and delights in stories about the person she's become.

We were on the phone catching up about vacations and household construction when Lauren sauntered into the room and asked, "Mom, may I please mop the floor?"

I could actually hear him holding his breath. Several seconds passed before he asked, "Did she just ask if she could mop?!"

Nonchalantly, I led her to the kitchen and handed her the rag mop and told her to do the kitchen first and work her way to the living room.

"May I use the duster after that?"

"Sure, I will leave the broom closet open. Just make sure that you only take out one tool at a time, okay?"

"Okay, Mom."
So she proceeded to do that, and as you can see from the pictures, talked all the while in typical Lauren fashion.
"She likes to mop."

"Oh my..." He was actually giggling at this point.

"I've always been good at managing people..."

"Yes...but...wow. Oh my."

"You're kicking yourself that you didn't think of it first."

"Wow."

"And if I say that Lindsay is here looking on wistfully..."

"You're so cool. And to think I knew you when..."