My new favourite poem

“First Lesson”
by Phillip Booth

Lie back, daughter, let your head
be tipped back in the cup of my hand.
Gently, and I will hold you. Spread
your arms wide, lie out on the stream
and look high at the gulls. A dead-
man’s float is face down. You will dive
and swim soon enough where this tidewater
ebbs to the sea. Daughter, believe
me, when you tire on your long thrash
to your island, lie up, and survive.
As you float now, where I held you
and let go, remember when fear
cramps your heart what I told you:
lie gently and wide to the light-year
stars, lie back, and the sea will hold you.

Take THAT!

"The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported it. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America."

-- Barack Obama, soon-to-be Senator from Illinois at the Democratic National Convention

On The Road

Ah, the joys of post-9/11 travel!
 
Sophie, our 4-year-old sweetie-pie, won the boarding pass lottery and was selected for additional security screening at the Seattle airport. Picture a sub 3-foot-tall blond pixie wearing a purple shirt with a white kitten and "Adorable" on it, pulling her Clifford the Big Red Dog rolling backpack behind her.
 
Yeah, that's what the security folk did too as they just subjected us all to the normal check (not even requiring her to remove her pink and purple Tevas)  and waved us through with a smile. Guess she doesn't fit the terrorist profile. Terror sometimes, especially when she's tired. Terrorist not-so-much. But hey - we did get to go through the express line, saving us a good 20 minutes or so.
 
Iowa was cornful and lovely, Chicago is pavementy and also lovely. It's been blessedly not-so-hot-nor-humid (save for the first two days when even my toenails were sweating). Thus far we've taken our traditional carousel ride, gone in search of Herky on Parade, visited Herbert Hoover's home, caught fireflies, watched a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, and given lots of love to a couple of grandmas, a great-aunt, and an uncle. Much more to come. 

Life Lessons

Whether it was an attempt to delay bedtime just a little while longer, or a genuine interest in things politic, Nathan started a conversation with me last night as I was cuddling with him in the top bunk.

Nathan: "So George Bush is just the President of Seattle, right?"

Me: "Nope... sadly he's President (grumble) of the whole United States."

Nathan: "Where is Howard Dean President? I want to go there."

Me: "Me too, honey, me too."

It's really no fun having to dose my kids with such harsh reality. I'm thinking the question came about because we're going on vacation next week, and it must have occurred to him that in leaving our city we might also be going someplace that wasn't so unlucky with regards to head of state.

Other things I've tried to teach my kids this week:

• Just because your shirt has a girl (namely Kim Possible) on it, doesn't mean it's a "girl's shirt", regardless of what your friends at daycamp say. If you like it, that's all that matters - and there's NOTHING wrong with thinking a girl is tshirt-worthy. (This lesson was accompanied by roleplaying "talk to the hand" and "what-ever" in case of future incidents.)


• When you bump your forehead on the side of the pool while doing blast-offs from your teacher to the wall, you need take some deep breaths, get plenty of hugs, lick the water off the top of the ice cup (since you won't put it on the owie) and then get right back in the pool and keep on swimming.


• You are not Bret Boone. Yet. Stop trying flip the ball sidearm to first.


• If your brother asks you to stop looking at him, it would be nice to respect his wishes - someday you'll ask him to stop looking at (or touching or breathing on or...) you, and he's more likely to do so if you are nice to him. Same goes for sharing your Gatorade.


• In the same vein, if your sister is looking at you and you don't want her to, rather than get all worked up about it, you could simply ignore her and go about your business. A lot of people will do a lot of things in your life that annoy the CRAP out of you. While you have no control over what they do, you do have control over how you react and the emotions you attach to those situations. (And no. It's not okay for you to say crap. I'm the mom, and it's called poetic license.)


• Yes, CJ is funny. Yes, I know you want to marry him. However, 4 is too early to commit to one boy or girl. Though it's hard to believe now, you might meet someone you like better someday. Yes, honey, like when you're 6.

Joy

Q: What's better than beating the Yankees in Yankee Stadium?

A: Beating them twice in Yankee Stadium.

Tigers take 2/3 from the Yankees to win the series. You should SEE me doin' the happy dance.

A Gift for Dubya

 

Kerry/Edwards '04

You're heading back to Crawford, birthday boy, so enjoy your last one in DC. I'd tell you to relax and take it easy, but you've been doing that for nearly four years now so what would be the point? Instead why don't you get a head-start on packing your bags so you can get the hell out of our White House.

And be sure to take your foul-mouthed VP with you.