she got me

While in the shoe section:

"How about those, mommy?"
"No, I don't want you to have shoes with characters. No people on your shoes."
"But mom... Ariel is a mermaid, not a person."

against killing killers

I am against the death penalty.
I have conflicting feelings about religion and those 10 commandments, but "thou shalt not kill" seems pretty straight forward to me. As far as I know, Moses didn't bring down tablets with small print on them; no exclusions apply, no seeing stores for details. Don't kill people: got it, Chief.
Someone in Virginia has a pretty awful "to do" list today. John Allen Muhammad is going to be executed today, unless there are last minute stays.
I was in DC when Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo made people fearful to stop for gas and had schools (including the one I was working at) on lock down for three weeks. I remember standing on a street corner with my friends - wide eyed and pulse skyrocketed - as we watched a white windowless van come speeding down the wrong way of a one way street and disappear around the corner on 2 wheels. What if one of us was next?
That was the general feeling in the metro area for too long a time. Paralyzing fear.
I was there. I was affected. I do not want a government official to kill this man.

There is the opportunity here, to explore the affect of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; Muhammad served in the first Gulf War. There is the link to another recent monsterous news event in Texas. But not for today.

totally helpless moment in Mom-hood

Last week, Willa had a nightmare about a bear chasing her. She got impatient with me because I didn't remember this in the morning. It seems the bear was also chasing the rest of her family. She came down crying, and I couldn't make it better.

Two days ago she started talking about her dream from the night before. "There were two mean ladies, and they locked me in a cage. And I was waiting for you to come and help me. Mama, where were you? You didn't come help me." She was crying. I was tearing up.

This life of hers while sleeping is troubling. I laugh with her when she tells me about the one hundred thousand and nine kitties in her house. But this chasing, and fear and waiting for help... these nightmares must be awful for her. They are for me.

Dear Henry,

When you wake up from your naps the skin near your hairline smells faintly of baking chocolate. I inhale it while you cuddle out of your bleariness.

Love,

Mom

Happy Halloween, from the Hallo-sinkis

We passed out candy, went to 5 houses in the neighborhood, and dropped in on Jim's parents for a quick trick-or-treat. Dragonfly Henry's first second holiday was a success. Ballerina Willa enjoyed giving out and receiving.

Anniversary

Four years ago, and every day; I do, I do, I do.

Just one

"Eric. That's the name of one of my husbands when I get older."
"Willa, what's my husband's name?"
"Uh.... daddy."
"And that's the only husband I have, right? Just one. How many husbands do you think you'll have?"
"One."
"Ever?"
"Yup."

Finally, our little polygamist is ready to agree to one and only. And - just to record for posterity - his name will be Eric, apparently.