What Is Wrong With This Picture?

Corduroy rainbow skirt.

Long sleeve matching top.

Very stylish long blue sweater.

Umbrella.

All a much valued 'back to school' gifts from Zoozie (except for the umbrella).

Answer

Could it be that this is California?

Could it be that this is AUGUST?

Could it be 98 degrees in the shade?

Could it be Abby dressed for church?

Yes, yes, yes, and yes!

Actually, it probably was only 90, but it felt like 98. I apologize for the uninspiring photo. I was lucky to get one at all, as there was an actual bee in the yard (way in the corner minding it's own business) and anyone who knows Abby, knows that she does not willingly share space with bugs of any kind no matter how useful they are.

Remembering 7-7-76

And the nurse said, "arn't you ever going to put that baby down?
And God said, "here is a miracle for you - enjoy"!
And I did! And I do!

"Don't...."

On Sunday I sat on the beach watching Abby frolic in the ocean - occassionaly with random like-minded children, but mostly by herself. For two hours she yelled and screeched at the top of her voice; leaped, danced and tumbled in the waves; threw wet sand and dug messy holes on the shoreline; and fought fiercely and joyously even triumphantly with nature.

And for two lovely hours I didn't have to say "no" or :stop" or "don't". I was close enough, if necessary, (barring an Act of God) to pluck her from danger. She was safe for the moment from rocks and cement and cars and city dangers - she was free and beautiful.

But as I sat there watching, I became acutely aware of how many times, just this weekend, that "don't's" had spilled out of my mouth. Though I delivered them in the approved positive mode, i.e. "use an indoor voice" instead of "don't yell so loud", kids are not stupid and the "don't's" are always there hovering as we try to keep them safe or socialize them. Be safe. Be careful. Be healthy. Respect people. Respect property. Think.

Don't walk near the curb.

Don't hug the dog so much.

Don't run so fast.

Don't get dirty.

Don't walk so slow.

Don't jump on the sofa.

Don't fall on the sofa.

Don't slide on the sofa.

Don't feed the dog people food.

Don't run on the rocks.

Don't run in those shoes.

Don't eat sweets.

Don't walk in the street.

Don't yell so loud.

Don't talk baby talk.

Don't chew with your mouth open.

Don't eat like a dog - even if you are pretending to be a dog.

Don't splash me.

Don't get your clothes wet.

Don't put your mouth on the water fountain.

Don't put the good pillows on the floor.

Don't climb so high.

Don't hide behind the tree.

Don't.....

Abby? She accepts whatever I load on her, trusting that I love her. Appologizes for falling down or for getting hurt and is quick to assure me that "I'm ok, Gramma" if a careless tumble goes wrong.

I tell myself that these cautions, most of them anyway, are necessary and a part of growing up and also that they were more numerous this weekend, because of being in a new place with new challenges, but it just about breaks my heart, nevertheless.

Ghost Colors

A book and story by Abigail June Scheidler as dictated to Gramma.

Ghost Colors

There was a mother ghost who had five children. When she went to the grocery store she always bought ice cream and milk which was all her family needed to keep them white.

One day while the mother was out shopping, one of the children found blueberries in the refrigerator. He was very hungry, but when he ate them he turned blue.

Another child drank the Jamba Juice that was in the frig an he turned green just like the juice.

Then the next child found some red potatoes to eat and he turned red.; the next ate cherries and turned very very red – even redder than the other red child!

The next child who was hungry tried lemons and turned yellow; his friend had some oranges and turned orange and the one who ate cheese turned orange too; but the friend who ate crackers turned yellow.

When the mom came home she found that her kids had turned all the colors of the rainbow. She fed them milk and ice cream right away and they all turned white again.

And they lived happily ever after. The End.


Comentary:

“ this is the greatest book ever! Abby

At this time of life Abby's imagination is MUCH more advanced than her ability to draw or write about what she sees in her head. So we have agreed that for future books I will be the scribe and she will do the illustrations and make up the stories. For this first book we ran into trouble fitting all the necessary words on the page. Gramma

Her second book is an "instruction book" for me on how to make dresses with twirl skirts..."so you won't have to work so hard, gramma".