Mimi and Papa just bought a cabin in the woods of Minnesota. Their plan was to save some more money, then ease into the Minnesota woods, building a cabin on the land sometime in the next 5-7 years. That all changed when we descended upon Minnesota last week, only to discover the perfect cabin in the woods, up on a bluff, less than a mile from the cemetery where my Minnesotan maternal grandparents were laid to rest. I love the continuity. Our family will continue to build ties to the north woods. And I love the fact that the continuity came about by spontaneity...it had to be that way. It's how we roll. Plans shmans. Reckless precision.
the kiss of death
I love trying to get kisses from Ava. Every time is like a music video for Ben Harper's, "Steal My Kisses." She doesn't give them away easily, and I typically have to sneak my way into her affection. A couple of mornings ago, I figured she would be groggy enough to submit to my smooch, but when I asked for the kiss she turned away, and quite loudly, and teenager-ly yelled, "Kiss my back!" She's going to yell such mean things to me as we age, I have no doubt. I have a good friend whose older sister was competing in a cross-country meet in high school, and when her father overdid his encouragement as she passed by, she yelled "f&*k off, dad!" I am prepared for these outbursts. And a bit excited, I must admit. I can respect tenacity and passion. (Kirstin and Nancy, please correct me if I have misquoted what was yelled at Wane.)
zoe. spot on.
The Champaign public swimming pool has a great water slide. It's steep enough to be moderately exciting for kids (kids ride with adults on a two-person tube), yet short enough that the line keeps moving along quickly (which is important to me). The only downside is the end. And not because it's over, but because it dumps you into the lazy river. And while the lazy river isn't the problem, its inhabitants are. Upon being shot out of the slide into the river, the slide riders glide across the water into the people who are lazily drifting by. Groups of teenagers. Old, lazy river people. Giggling girls. The couple in their 40s on a first date at the public pool. The entire J.V. basketball team at Champaign Central HS. The single guy who hangs out in the river because of the chance that something lovely will glide into him. You get the point. Groups of people that don't want intruders, yet have no choice when the slide spews forth its phlegm. It's just uncomfortable for everyone. Conversations are stopped. Odd body positions are struck to avoid physical contact with a stranger. On separate occasions, I've heard at least 3 people fart during the human log jam. I was two of those people.
On Saturday while we were at the pool, Zoe asked to go down the slide, and I gave in without any objection. The place was HORRIBLY crowded, and I was excited to get out of the main pool area. We headed down the slide without incident, Zoe screaming and laughing hysterically the whole time, making the glorified slip and slide feel like a roller coaster. As we approached the end, I surveyed the humanity we would soon be joining, and realized that if the main pool area was HORRIBLY crowded, the lazy river was the lawn at my last Dave Matthews concert (it was SEVERAL years ago, for the record). I braced myself for contact and farts, and glided across the water towards an older couple, 4 teenage girls bound together by intertwined arms and legs, and three 10 year old boys. Butt cheeks clenched, gripping the tube, I was at a loss for something to say or do. I wanted to hand paddle my way to open water, but there was none. Not typically a guy who's at a loss for words or actions in a crowd, I froze. And then, I got outdid. Before we glided to a stop, nestled amidst our fellow river rats, Zoe yelled, "AWWWWKWARRRRD!!" So appropriate, so well-timed...so Zoe. Tension cut, people began to laugh and point at my lovely little daughter. We became one with the river crowd. We drifted along. The water bubbling two separate times below my trunks, just for good measure.
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