Tuesday, October 26, 2004
a tradition reborn
Earlier this evening, while The Wife was sequestered in our bedroom studying for another in an endless series of nursing school exams, The Boy and I adjurned to the couch, as I imagine fathers and sons often do, to watch some quality television.
It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was on.
In my mind, the memory of every childhood Halloween involves watching this classic cartoon.
It seems as though some of my earliest childhood memories involve Halloween, although I cannot be certain whether the memory is one of the real event or of watching my dad's old Super-8 home movies later in life. Either way, my childhood Halloweens are remembered as exciting and fun times, filled as much with the guidance and nurturing support of my parents as with costumes and candy.
So, I thought to myself, "This is great! It's our first official Halloween with The Boy. We'll watch this show together. Just like I did when I was a child."
[as an aside: Last year for Halloween, although The Boy was not yet ours, The Wife and I were still his strongest advocates and virtual family. We took The Boy out from Ms. von Munchausen and her so-called Home for Children with Significant Medical Needs. We made him an Elvis costume. Vegas Elvis, with the rhinestone and sequined jumpsuit. My heart still fills with pride when I report that our special little lumpy headed crazy curly haired boy in a wheelchair beat out all the perfect little blonde haired blue eyed princesses and Barneyed-up costumed yuppie babies last year at the local Babies R Us Costume Contest. He came in first place in a SUV driving suburban soccer mom customer judged contest. He won a $20 gift certificate. Remind me, my dear reader, next month after the adoption is final and I'll post a photo. You'll see. It was freakin' awesome.]
I sat with The Boy in my lap and together we watched Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang. He seemed to really dig the Vince Guaraldi music.
They were so mean to Charlie Brown. Why was everybody so mean to him? The poor kid. Then I got to thinking. . .
You couldn't make this Peanuts cartoon in today's world. Those kids got popcorn balls, cookies, and other good home-made and thus not tamper-resistant factory sealed treats for Halloween.
The world has indeed changed, for the cartoon world is the world I remember from my small town childhood trick-or-treating.
And besides, those other kids were so mean to Linus and Charlie Brown. You can't get away with that in today's world. They might be traumatized and grow up to be Harris and Klebold.
So The Boy and I watch the show. It's every bit as wonderful I as recall. I'm busy running down memory lane in my head and freely sharing these recollections. The Boy is listening and looking, his attention goes between the television and me. He is smiling and and seems very content just to be sitting in my lap.
When the program ends, I reach down to adjust The Boy's position in my lap.
It is at that time I notice there is a damp spot on my shorts beneath him. I then notice his shorts are also damp and his diaper is bulging.
Then I realize the prune juice The home health care Nurse gave him earlier that afternoon had the desired effect.
|
It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was on.
In my mind, the memory of every childhood Halloween involves watching this classic cartoon.
It seems as though some of my earliest childhood memories involve Halloween, although I cannot be certain whether the memory is one of the real event or of watching my dad's old Super-8 home movies later in life. Either way, my childhood Halloweens are remembered as exciting and fun times, filled as much with the guidance and nurturing support of my parents as with costumes and candy.
So, I thought to myself, "This is great! It's our first official Halloween with The Boy. We'll watch this show together. Just like I did when I was a child."
[as an aside: Last year for Halloween, although The Boy was not yet ours, The Wife and I were still his strongest advocates and virtual family. We took The Boy out from Ms. von Munchausen and her so-called Home for Children with Significant Medical Needs. We made him an Elvis costume. Vegas Elvis, with the rhinestone and sequined jumpsuit. My heart still fills with pride when I report that our special little lumpy headed crazy curly haired boy in a wheelchair beat out all the perfect little blonde haired blue eyed princesses and Barneyed-up costumed yuppie babies last year at the local Babies R Us Costume Contest. He came in first place in a SUV driving suburban soccer mom customer judged contest. He won a $20 gift certificate. Remind me, my dear reader, next month after the adoption is final and I'll post a photo. You'll see. It was freakin' awesome.]
I sat with The Boy in my lap and together we watched Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang. He seemed to really dig the Vince Guaraldi music.
They were so mean to Charlie Brown. Why was everybody so mean to him? The poor kid. Then I got to thinking. . .
You couldn't make this Peanuts cartoon in today's world. Those kids got popcorn balls, cookies, and other good home-made and thus not tamper-resistant factory sealed treats for Halloween.
The world has indeed changed, for the cartoon world is the world I remember from my small town childhood trick-or-treating.
And besides, those other kids were so mean to Linus and Charlie Brown. You can't get away with that in today's world. They might be traumatized and grow up to be Harris and Klebold.
So The Boy and I watch the show. It's every bit as wonderful I as recall. I'm busy running down memory lane in my head and freely sharing these recollections. The Boy is listening and looking, his attention goes between the television and me. He is smiling and and seems very content just to be sitting in my lap.
When the program ends, I reach down to adjust The Boy's position in my lap.
It is at that time I notice there is a damp spot on my shorts beneath him. I then notice his shorts are also damp and his diaper is bulging.
Then I realize the prune juice The home health care Nurse gave him earlier that afternoon had the desired effect.
|
Comments:
Post a Comment
