In the wonderful world of Zelly, ordinary objects are given new names and new verbs are born:
'vanilla wafers' become microwaves.
Red has lost it's identity and become 'my favoriter color'
Lawn mowing is 'lawn mowering'
using a screw driver becomes 'screwdrivering'
---
One morning at breakfast:
"Zelly, do you have freckles?"
She nods.
"Where do you have freckles?"
She points vaguely at the growing herd that starts at one cheekbone, rambles across the bridge of her nose and onto the other cheekbone.
"Do I have freckles?"
She looks at my face and nods. "How many do I have?"
"Um... one... (looking, looking) ... two."
I laugh," Just two? Are you sure?"
"Yes (counting again), one, two."
I guess that could be right, maybe all my multitudes of freckles have finally merged into just two.
-----
This evening we assembled my new garden cart. This provided an opportunity to learn about tools, their names and uses ("this is an adjustable wrench because you can change how wide it is, that's called 'adjusting'"), I had her count out nuts and bolts for me and she got to work on her 'screwdrivering'. Then she found out that tools and nuts and bolts and partially assembled carts make interesting percussion instruments.
Partway through the project we lost a cotter pin, one of two. I still have no idea where it went. I went downstairs to search through the multitude of miscellaneous nuts, bolts, washers, screws and whatnot collected in a growing array of cans, jars, boxes and old margerine containers. I didn't expect to find a cotter pin but I did. I took it upstairs, wrestled with it, restrained my cursing and got the wheels on the cart.
At some point Zelly remembered that she had her own set of tools. She brough out her toolbox and soon she was hammering, screwing and bolting all manner of extra items to the cart (or at least pretending to).
Once we finished the cart, it was time for a test drive. Zelly started out in the driver's position but quickly took advantage of my offer to give her a ride. We toured the front yard in high style before returning the cart to the porch.
That's enough work for one night, time for baseball, beer and bath (the first two for me, the last for Zell).
Posted by buggy at May 9, 2003 04:13 AMCam i have yet had time to sit down and read a-lot of the things that you write due to not having a computer at home. but now that i have one, i have been reading the little stories that you write and i wanted to let you know that your writing is fantastic. you realy should consider writing a book. the things that you write always but a smile on my face!
Posted by: dawn c on June 25, 2003 02:09 AMahhh, thanks hon. I have considered writing a book, or several actually. I guess laziness is getting in my way. That and a lack of focus... I need to choose *what* I'm going to write that book about.
Posted by: buggy on June 25, 2003 02:18 AM