Life: Idiotropic

As a child, I was a rock collector and a sticker collector. When I grew out of those things, I picked pretty flowers and leaves and pressed them. I still have shoeboxes, envelopes, and books filled with bits of flattened foliage that I've collected over the years waiting for the some day when I'll get struck with inspiration and also find the time to do something with it all. I have always been a beachcomber (and the 10+ boxes of shells in the attic attest to that). And, when I unpacked here in Germany, I did find a bag of moss that I collected on Mount Hood in 1993 at Jessica's family cabin.

So, I shouldn't be surprised now when I find furry green and white pumpkins lodged between the wall and Luci's bed months after Halloween was over. "It's special to me. I want to keep it FOREVER." Those are words I hear all the time. I shouldn't be surprised by the rocks in her dresser and her shoes and her toy boxes and under tables. And, I shouldn't be surprised when I empty Luci's pockets before washing her coat to find - well, what a very poor magician might pull out of a hat, or what seems to be the contents of a clown car gone flea marketing. I'm amazed they can hold it all. And I'm amazed by the mind of a girl who can find beauty and significance in each of these small things.

Luci's pocket's contents - 15 December 07

1. 2 wads of Kleenex (looks clean)
2. a wood composite 1" heart
3. a Happy Meal Polly Pocket
4. a 2" rock
5. a white Fender guitar pick
6. a pink poodle keychair from Valencia, Spain
7. a large orange plastic bead
8. a shrivelled chestnut
9. a dirty white silk flower
10. a plum pit
11. an unidentifiable rubber thing
12. an unidentifiable plastic thing
13. 2 business cards from the Village Connection (picked up at the bazaar on 11 Oct)
14. a Visa/MC/AmEx sticker
15. 2 small white tages on red thread - one for 249Euros and another for 279Euros - not from anything I bought
16. 2 red worn metal stars with the silver showing through

Oh... and while we're discussing my rather "special" children, let me tell you something that I never thought I'd hear myself say:


Funny? No. I got back from Italy and Kirk had taken the kids to the toy store and had purchased one toy for each. Elise wanted a squishy rubber life sized rat which she still loves to this day (and even took to Paris with her). She bathes it in the sink. She plays with it regularly. It is among her most prized possessions. And, she swings it, frequently, by the tail everywhere, including my kitchen - hence the above quote.