Unconformed

I hope I never have to live without the children close by. The transparency, the affection so freely given, the delight in simple things, the unconformed view of the world. I am so shaped by culture and convention; they are so not.

This week in Stehekin, visiting deep with dear friends, I got to spend some time with their grandchildren.

While we were eating meatloaf for dinner one night, Ray said, "Puh-uh [his name for his grandpa], is this Bobthebull? Did you shoot this bull?"

Getting ready to visit his other grandparents for Easter weekend, Ray said, "I am going to Eastertime! I am going to wear my tie-shirt."

As Ray doctored his grandpa with the stethoscope for the seventeenth or twenty-seventh time that afternoon, Mark said, "You are a good doctor, Ray." "Yes, I am," Ray replied. "Not everyone is a good doctor."

Checking his pockets one morning, Ray pulled out a dried up wad. "Oh, this is a blue tissue." Then, holding it out to me, "It doesn't have any snot on it."


Ray loves to pretend that he is Babar the elephant from the children's picture book series. He even has a special straight-legged stomping elephant walk when he is Babar. And his daddy is Pogular, Ray's variation on the name "Podular" in the Babar books. We were all on the boat together on Friday, and an acquaintance of Jake's was making conversation with him and then bent to Ray's level to address him. "And what is your name?" he asked.
"I am Babar," Ray answered.
The man straightened, obviously not quite sure what to think of the things people are naming their children these days. Jake read his face. "What name did he tell you?" Jake asked.
Ray cut into the conversation, sweeping his arm towards his dad. "And this is Pogular," he added.

McKenna is popping out with new words and delighting in the ability to interact. She loves to read books, make animal sounds, and eat anything within reach.

Ellie, only five weeks, sleeps. She's still short enough and oblivious enough to sleep lying on Mama's legs during meals, conversations, travels. When she is awake her eyes struggle to focus, and her needs are simple and urgent.

Ray came to give me a hug goodbye in the Field's Point parking lot. His parents, carrying his sisters, also bid me farewell and as I looked into their eyes, I delighted to see their joy in the crazy, wonderful stage of life they are in.