Saturday, October 31, 2009

Happy Halloween From The Princess And The Green Lantern

I had this whole costume for Maggie all worked out -- I've spent the last two months piecing together a little outfit so that Maggie could be Olivia the Pig, a literary character with whom I have a love affair spanning years. However, yesterday Maggie informed me that she would not be dressing up as Olivia, and that she needed a crown so that she could be a fairy princess, instead. (The dress she already had.) So this morning, I spent my precious time and energy elbowing eager candy shoppers out of the way at Target, so that I could procure a crown for my amazonian fairy princess. It was totally worth it. Look how sassy she thinks she is.
Max has been indoctrinated with a love of The Justice League by his father, and his plan is to work his way through each of the characters, one for every Halloween, until he has been each of the members of the league in turn. Depending on whether you count some of the lesser known, somewhat extraneous characters, he could be well into his twenties by the time he completes this goal. This year he is the Green Lantern. The best part of his costume is the Green Lantern Ring, which you cannot see in this picture, so you will have to take my word for it. It is a gigantic, very sparkly, very gaudy costume emerald ring, on which I painted the green lantern symbol with gold paint. He looks like Zsa Zsa Gabore in a superhero suit. Good times.
When I was little, I lived in Canada, and many a delicate and fanciful costume was ruined by the need to throw on a winter coat over top before trick or treating. Here in California, the opposite problem stands between us and costume greatness: it was seventy-one degrees today, and while Maggie's gown could be made weather-appropriate through the addition or subtraction of tights and an airy, lacy shawl, The Green Lantern had some sweaty armpits in his all-black crime-fighting ensemble. Like the hero he is, however, he did not let it slow him down, and evil-doers and pumpkin guts alike were cowed by his sparkly, shiny ring of power.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

It's Not Just Because He Likes Sausage Or Anything

Max to Mama (musingly): Granny is a vegetarian.
Mama: That's true.
Max: She only likes vegetables.
Mama: Well ...
Max: And grains.
Mama: Um ...
Max: And fruit a little bit. Right, Mama?
Mama: Yep.
Max: Granny does not like any meat.
Mama: Right.
Max: So thatwise I am going to eat all of the sausage so Granny doesn't have to eat it. Because sausage is meat, right, Mama?
Mama: Sausage is made of meat, yes.
Max: I am protecting Granny from meat. Because did you notice that I really love Granny?
Mama: I'm sure she's very grateful.
Max: Yeah.

Friday, October 09, 2009

Happy Birthday Ian!!

It has been twenty years, I think almost exactly, since Ian and I first met. Obviously, in twenty years of knowing him, I have witnessed him change and grow in a number of ways. His style of dressing has changed. The amount of hair on his head has changed. He has changed from a teenager to a young man to a husband and father. But the very best things about Ian, the core Ianness that I fell in love with and have remained very much in love with for all of this time, those things have not changed. Ian is funny. He is friendly, in an outgoing way that I have many times used as a shelter for my more reserved self. He is comfortable in his own body and spirit, in a way that puts other people at ease. And he is, he always has been, loving and attentive and loyal in a way that allows Max, Maggie and I to feel that we are protected and safe and living a very great adventure. Happy Birthday, Ianly. We love you so very much.

Friday, October 02, 2009

Happy Birthday Granny!!



i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

-- ee cummings