Ankle Champion of the World

Last week, Justus made a press-worthy discovery. From the look on his face, you would think he had just  uncovered an ancient Mayan city or the clearly labeled remains of Amelia Earhart.

What he actually discovered is that his hand is on a swivel.


The press conference he held to announce his findings went something like this, “Bahbabababababah”, followed by an impressive demonstration in which he rolled his hand in circles before the awestruck reporters’ eyes.


I’m not 100% sure but I think I may have seen a brief evil smile creep across Justus’ face, as he realized that he could control this object, this thing that Momma calls a hand. I can make this thing perform at my will.


Every so often, my husband and I look over at Justus and he is holding his hand decisively in front of his face–just a couple of inches from his eyes–as if continuing his research. Justus’ series of discoveries, which will soon be published in various academic journals, include that he has a left hand, that this left hand also swivels, that both his right hand and left hand can swivel clockwise and counterclockwise, and also that he can raise the index finger on his right hand while keeping the rest of his fist closed (research has yet to prove this ability extends to his other fingers or left hand). He may be the next David Blaine.


As time passed, it turned out that both of his feet are also on swivels, which for now, he can only operate in tandem. And so, he looks like some sort of perpetually exercising old lady in the easy aerobics class, rotating his ankles in circles “and one and two and three and…”  Only he has been doing it for hours now, so its “and forty thousand and one…and forty thousand and two.” This gives us high hopes that one day his discipline will pay off and he will be the worldwide ankle champion of something.


We couldn’t be prouder.


*To read the last post about Justus’ developing vision–People Are Walking Around Like Trees–click here.