Alden is an independent sort of person who likes to think of herself as a true individual. As such, she likes to dress like one.
Our friend Beth recently returned from Guatemala, bringing with her a pair of extraordinary overalls for Alden. Alden made it clear that she wanted to wear them this morning, being of the general opinion that there are no other overalls like them in the world.
Dressed in a completely original way, Alden was ready to take on the world. She started by communing with Lily.
And then proceeded to behold the world outside her window, contemplating all the remarkable things that she might do today.
Then, with no warning, something horrible happened. Someone showed up wearing an uncomfortably similar pair of amazing technicolor clown pants.
Needless to say, this did not go over well with Alden, who felt her all-important individuality was being violated.
The situation quickly deteriorated. Kato, who wants nothing more than to be like Alden and to be well thought of by her, crumbled beneath the weight of rejection.
Alden had to gently rub his temples while saying affirming things about his haircut.
It seemed to help.
Once he had found his happy place again, Kato returned to the plush leather recliner for his daily contemplation.
Things were going very well when suddenly Kato made a tragic error.
The act of lifting his right arm precipitated a series of unexpected happenings.
I watched with horror, wondering what I could to to stop the inevitable.
But there was nothing to be done.
Once he came to rest, Kato decided that he rather liked preferred to lie on his side, and settled in for some contemplation of the horizontal variety.
For all I know, he’s there still, lying sideways on the recliner. Alden and I and her technicolor pants decided to take advantage of the beautiful, 65 degree weather and drove to Kennedyville to take a hike at Turner’s Creek.
We walked through fields.
Past a creepy deserted barn (Alden’s comment was, “Nobody home.”)
And down a steep path by a thicket of bamboo.
Eventually we came to the water.
Alden decided to take a closer look.
Apparently, Kato was not the only child of mine to have compromised balance issues today. Alden did a butt-first tumble into the Chesapeake, and the amazing (but sodden) technicolor clown pants had to be removed for the march back.
If she minded, she kept it to herself.
As far as she could tell, she was the only girl in red tights and green frog boots in the vicinity, and that was all that mattered.
Too, too funny. All of it. I am cackling here.
Also, received my subscription today. Haven’t gotten to the book, which looks veeeery interesting, but would recommend the subscription merely for the enjoyment I got from the clever and hilarious cartoon letter. Thank you. And, I will report back after reading my new book.
P.S. When my son was about Kato’s age, I wanted to take some photos of him in this beautiful little antique baby chair. It was classic pine Americana with rungs on the back of it. But, as you know, you cannot rely on the slippery little twerps to stay upright. So I undid his overall straps and threaded them through the rungs before buckling them again. He was absolutely comfortable, and I could snap away without worrying about his falling. To this day, those photos just crack me up. Because laced into his precious little trusting smile was the merest hint of perplexity…
Heh…I still get that look from him, come to think of it…
so glad the guatemalan clown pants worked out. and so glad that i had friends with bambinos small enough to warrant me buying them. (i think a pair in my size wouldn’t have been nearly as cute.) hilarious!