When I got to Lily's today to get the boys, Owen was very excited to show me what he'd gotten from his other grandma's house this past weekend. An owl he called Hedwig, for Harry Potter's owl, and a husky puppy he was calling White Fang. The boy does love his animal friends. And had a severe case of bed-head. I told him he looked like the lead singer in an 80's rock band. And he did.
We packed everything up and got in the car and drove through a car wash which was SO MUCH FUN because, well, it just is.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh.
Cuushy-cuushy-cuushy.
Swish-swish-swish.
And then bloooooooooooowwwwwwwwww!
And we arrive on the other side all sparkly clean and happy. So happy that they talked Mer into buying them Icee's or whatever they called the brand at that particular convenience store which should have been Gag-Me-This-Sucks.
Gibson drank about two sips and Owen managed a bit more and I didn't feel bad at all about throwing the rest in the trash. In this case, it WAS the thought that counted and their Mer bought them a frozen concoction of sugar and chemicals and they were happy.
On the way home I said, "Hey! Let's stop at a thrift store I know and y'all can pick out a toy!"
All righty then and we sure did and when we drove up the sign said, "Toys and books, 50% off."
Shitfire, Martha! It was our lucky day.
We had a lot of fun picking out toys and then I thought about all the joy and happiness this was creating (and 50% off!) and said, "You can both have TWO toys!"
Well. That was about the best thing that ever happened to them and Owen got a Dinosaur and Wild Animals Play Set with fifty-nine pieces AND a giant stuffed husky and Gibson chose a pink doll stroller and a Fisher Price Tool Set.
And Mer plunked down her $6.44 and we were all in a state of great celebration and we drove home and toys were spread out.
A baby was strolled for about six seconds.
The giant husky was washed and dried and came out soft and warm and she and her baby cuddled up and were so happy to have found each other again.
Owen picked figs for me and Gibson wanted me to lay down on the bed with him while he watched videos on my phone for awhile. They ate lunch and we found six nice eggs and fed chickens and Owen washed some of his dinosaurs and Gibson played mermaids and monkeys
at the beach in a bowl of water on a towel on the kitchen floor and we all smelled the spices and Owen grated nutmeg. Somehow, this activity evolved into me making gingerbread. I didn't think that Owen would like it at all but he ate a small piece and said he liked it pretty good as did Gibson and now they know what cloves and cinnamon and ginger and cardamom all taste like when baked into a cake with molasses and flour and butter and eggs.
So yes. It was a very fine day and now they're gone and Mr. Moon is off to auction and two yellow flies bit me and my toe is swollen up like a little pink pickled sausage and my beloved, beloved dishwasher is running so quietly that I can barely hear it and somewhere to the east they are getting a storm and the radar says it is coming here and it is thundering and the air has turned a bit cooler (meaning like if you stuck a fan in the oven) and the wind picks up and dies away and the sky is a bit ominous. The elephant ears are bowing their green heads up and down in acceptance of whatever comes.
Me too.
And here comes the rain.
My god. It smells so good.
Here. Bruce. Prophet, story-teller, healer, stirrer-of-my-soul.
"Mary's Place"
I got seven pictures of Buddha
The prophet's on my tongue
Eleven angels of mercy
Sighin' over that black hole in the sun
My heart's dark but it's risin'
I'm pullin' all the faith I can see
From that black hole on the horizon
I hear your voice calling me
Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain
Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain, let it rain
Meet me at Mary's place, we're gonna have a party
Meet me at Mary's place, we're gonna have a party
Tell me how do we get this thing started
Meet me at Mary's place
Familiar faces around me
Laughter fills the air
Your loving grace surrounds me
Everybody's here
Furniture's out on the front porch
Music's up loud
I dream of you in my arms
I lose myself in the crowd
Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain
Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain, let it rain
Meet me at Mary's place, we're gonna have a party
Meet me at Mary's place, we're gonna have a party
Tell me how do you live broken-hearted
Meet me at Mary's place
I got a picture of you in my locket
I keep it close to my heart
A light shining in my breast
Leading me through the dark
Seven days, seven candles
In my window light your way
Your favorite record's on the turntable
I drop the needle and pray
Band's countin' out midnight
Floor's rumblin' loud
Singer's callin' up daylight
And waitin' for that shout from the crowd
Waitin' for that shout from the crowd
Waitin' for that shout from the crowd
Waitin' for that shout from the crowd
Waitin' for that shout from the crowd
Waitin' for that shout from the crowd
Turn it up, turn it up, turn it up
Turn it up, turn it up, turn it up, turn it up
Meet me at Mary's place, we're gonna have a party
Meet me at Mary's place, we're gonna have a party
Tell me how do we get this thing started
Meet me at Mary's place
Meet me at Mary's place
Meet me at Mary's place
The prophet's on my tongue
Eleven angels of mercy
Sighin' over that black hole in the sun
My heart's dark but it's risin'
I'm pullin' all the faith I can see
From that black hole on the horizon
I hear your voice calling me
Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain
Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain, let it rain
Meet me at Mary's place, we're gonna have a party
Meet me at Mary's place, we're gonna have a party
Tell me how do we get this thing started
Meet me at Mary's place
Familiar faces around me
Laughter fills the air
Your loving grace surrounds me
Everybody's here
Furniture's out on the front porch
Music's up loud
I dream of you in my arms
I lose myself in the crowd
Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain
Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain, let it rain
Meet me at Mary's place, we're gonna have a party
Meet me at Mary's place, we're gonna have a party
Tell me how do you live broken-hearted
Meet me at Mary's place
I got a picture of you in my locket
I keep it close to my heart
A light shining in my breast
Leading me through the dark
Seven days, seven candles
In my window light your way
Your favorite record's on the turntable
I drop the needle and pray
Band's countin' out midnight
Floor's rumblin' loud
Singer's callin' up daylight
And waitin' for that shout from the crowd
Waitin' for that shout from the crowd
Waitin' for that shout from the crowd
Waitin' for that shout from the crowd
Waitin' for that shout from the crowd
Waitin' for that shout from the crowd
Turn it up, turn it up, turn it up
Turn it up, turn it up, turn it up, turn it up
Meet me at Mary's place, we're gonna have a party
Meet me at Mary's place, we're gonna have a party
Tell me how do we get this thing started
Meet me at Mary's place
Meet me at Mary's place
Meet me at Mary's place
Love...Ms. Moon
Oh, what spoils. What a day!
ReplyDeleteOh my, I SO remember those monkeys and mermaids from my childhood! Memories! How fun!
ReplyDeleteI love thrift stores. That giant husky was meant to be found by the little person who had her baby. She just was.
ReplyDeleteYou have such a beautiful life. I envy you. :)
ReplyDeleteDang. That Bruce is sexy.
ReplyDeleteOK, that dinosaur play set is AWESOME. I would have bought that for myself! Aren't thrift stores incredible? (Like I'm saying something you don't already know.)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a terrific day all around!
Oh, and like Joanne, I remember those mermaids and monkeys too. So they're still in use, are they? I had no idea. We used to get ours from Frisch's Big Boy in Tampa.
ReplyDeleteI love how you love on those boys. And how you teach them as you go. Makes my eyes well up every time.
ReplyDeleteyou make me miss my grandkids when they were little and everything was fun. well, everything is still fun with them but in a different way. teenagers and all.
ReplyDeleteSo many toys! I think all your readers want to come be your grandchild for the day and make gingerbread with you. I do.
ReplyDeleteJo- Seriously!
ReplyDeleteJoanne- I need to get some more. We are almost out.
They do tend to disappear.
jenny_o- It was such a thrill for us to find her. I'm sure her baby was happy too.
Jennifer- I would envy me too.
Elizabeth- Seximus Meximus as we say around here for no apparent reason.
Steve Reed- I'm pretty sure you can still get those things at places that sell party items. And yes! Thrift stores are the best! I've gotten half the stuff I own from this particular one.
Heartinhand- I'm just so lucky to get to spend time with them.
Ellen Abbott- Each age is precious but the young years are so...sweet.
Mwa- I just start a grandma-center for grown-ups who need some grannying. Charge out the yang. And make everyone pick up their toys before they leave.
Ah, I wish I'd had a grandma like you. You are the best. Gingerbread, just whips one up. Wow. And TWO toys. I loved so much the photo of the giant husky and the babe and the water bowl and how he reunited them. I love your writing. I love how you make those boys so happy and loved and loving.
ReplyDeleteThose boys with their toys takes me way back. I am now filled with nostalgia for my long ago youth.
ReplyDelete