Here is the scenario: I want to have a conversation about the Galapagos Islands. But the 13-Year-Old is watching a Funny TikTok video.

How does a person compete with that?

Cell Phone. TikTok. Raging Hormones. Three strikes and I am out!!!

But I didn’t give up. 

We’ve got to keep trying and talk to each other – One-On-One.   

We are in the car; my 13-year-old grandson and I are on our way to the Elk Grove Wrestling Academy. 

He’s a wrestler now, just like my brother. It is a sport I like because I loved watching my older brother. Back when I worshiped the ground, he walked on.

Things have changed since then, But that is another story.

The grandson, Aiden, is, what else looking at his phone as I drive. I am listening to National Public Radio.

Our silence is comfortable. I like this guy. He, I hope, likes me. He is easy to talk to. Open and honest and funny.

But now I’m listening to National Public Radio, and he is watching a video.

We are about halfway to our destination when a report about the Galápagos Islands comes on. The famous tourist destination has been hit hard by COVID. Islanders are suffering. But there is now hope.

I’m immediately enthralled!!

The Galapagos Islands, I shout out loud. 

I envision fat seals, oversized tortoise, blue water, Herman Melville, Charles Darwin spring up in my brain.  

Right at that moment, Aiden bursts out laughing. A vast, happy belly laugh is a rare sound for a 13-year-old with raging hormones; his moods are becoming legendary in our house.

Worst than his Mom’s who still has them, she set new records between the ages of 16 to 21.

Aiden’s mood seems to be stuck on half-past grumpy; he is usually ticking, like a time bomb, tick, tick, tick. Ticking down to full-blown anger and an explosion.

Aiden loves nature, reptiles, snakes, the beach, the ocean.

I think he must know all about the Galapagos Islands. 

I glance over at him, and he is watching a TikTok video. Some random wanna-be is dancing around in a speedo.

I only get a glance cause I’m driving.

Is that guy naked in the video, I wonder. I thought I caught a glimpse of a penis?

Did I? It can’t be. Can it?

I try to interject. Turning the radio up so the teenager can hear the report about how erosion caused Darwin’s Arch to collapse into the sea. 

Hoping we can talk about Darwin’s writings and Melville’s and the White Whale. The white beast! And the fricking seals and turtles. 

Could that TikTok dancer have been naked?

Naw.

Was the Darwin Arch-erosion caused by Global warming? 

All good questions, I think.

Aiden, I say. Can we talk for a sec?

Sure he says, turning away from his phone and the possibly naked man.

He is used to me demanding a conversation.

One-On-One, I constantly tell him. He indulges me.

He listens to my podcast.

He says my voice is soothing. It’s a compliment I love to hear from a young man just barely in his teens.

Make an effort – Try to Talk to Your Family Members 

I hope he loves me, I think. Before I die, I hope he will be there at the hospital or in my room, reading to me or telling me about his life.

Like I did with my Mom and my Dad. Cause at the end, all you really have is family. Family. Blood relation or not. Family.

Do you know about the giant sea turtles and the Galápagos Islands, I ask?

Of course, Grandma. He answers.

I say Darwin studied and wrote there. It where he developed his Theory of Evolution.

You know!? I ask.

He says sure again. Then adds, Yup, we came from the same place, crawling out of the sea, evolving into Apes, survival of the fittest.  

Maybe we can travel there one day. They have tons of reptiles in the jungles there.

Sure. Aiden says.

He turns back to his phone.

I know he watches science videos along with the dancing videos.

We are close to the Elk Grove Wrestling Academy.

It’s not a great One-On-One. But it’ll do.

I’m Gloria Moraga. Talk to each other. Especially your teens, related or not.

And watch what they are watching.