April 6, 2008

Pine Cone War

Never underestimate the great satisfaction there is to be had in throwing things at your kids. Of course I'm not talking about anything that could hurt them, no sharp objects please. Pine cones make a perfect choice. They absorb all the force of the gesture and hit their target like a tap on the shoulder, much like a badminton birdie, you know the way you can whack the hell out of it with your racket but always the birdie falls through the air in a slow lazy arc.

Last week our dear friends, Trevor, Thi and Hien, came from California for a visit. The highlight of our time together was a spontaneous pine cone war that erupted in a tiny patch of grass that we found on the way to the opening of my show. The kids started it. We stopped to let off a little steam, grass being the best medicine for kids, and knowing that the opening would be just short of torture for them. The no touch, no yell, no run thing is just a little oppressive to say the least, a lot to ask of a two year old and a five year old. As soon as the kids discovered the pine cones they ran about scooping them all up like they were golden eggs on Easter morning. Then, just as quickly, they started pelting us with them. They encouraged us to throw them back, Uta with words 'Hit Me, Hit me" and Hien with sly expressions.

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