Ch. 141; Vol. 10

“AH! My brain is going to pop out of its socket!”

Puck’s morning had begun.

And his brain was really in no danger of popping.

The Bear’s and my morning started with the realization that we had both dreamt about renewing our vows.

We were not inspired.

Then our ride. An enormous brigade of police, army, fire fighter, etc. motorcycles were shutting down the highway. We assumed it was a funeral. Flags and people on the overpasses. Other people stepping out of their cars to wave and applaud. Clearly, not a funeral. Later, Carrie told me it was some sort of Memorial Day celebration. Shutting down the highway. On a Tuesday morning. During rush hour. Not so cool. Or logical.

We took a detour past church. Road flooded. The Bear was a little late to work. In fact, most of the surrounding area was flooded from the torrential rain in the night. And some impressive displays of thunder and lightening which made the day that much more great.

But The Bear got there when he needed to get there, and Puck and I got to the Science Center.

I guess that place just doesn’t get old. We took in a couple of science shows and the exhibits as usual. We paused to examine the baby mummy from Egypt on display outside the Omnimax. That’s always a little weird for a six year-old, I guess. Puck wasn’t sure he wanted to see it again.

Artisan pizza for lunch. We each had a huge slice of cheese, which was very good. And a fruit cup – purple grapes, pineapple, and strawberries. While I tried to keep Puck from running to the Tardis-esque energy machine in the center of the cafe, where he wanted to help the other kids run the giant hamster wheel…

“I JUST HAVE TO GO TELL THEM SOMETHING!”

He knows no strangers.

Four science shows in total brought us to nearly 2:45, including objects dropped from the fourth story – balls and water balloons.

“Ok, young man,” the physicist teacher in the tie-dyed lab coat handed a bouncy ball and golfball to Puck, “I need you to use your super strength and intellect to determine which ball is the squishiest!”

He chose correctly.

Later, she displayed the power of a Tesla coil, which Puck thought was pretty amazing, of course.

“I just blew my ears up!”

Puck had been blowing his nose. In and out. And making some surprising discoveries.

White clover and pine, the sun strained through gray cloud like ocean.

Puck was coasting down the driveway over and over again when we got back, before his bedtime, which I may or may not have mentioned was kicked back to 7:30. He loves to bike.

“Let’s see what happens to a balloon when we put it in the freezer,” he said to himself, like a narration. “Hm. We’ll see…”

He had been inspired. We were just sitting down to read his Jesus Storybook Bible – a three-year standing tradition now – and then some Garfield. But a scientist never takes a break.

Then he and The Bear goofed around with an harmonica until I finally convinced them to brush Puck’s teeth. These two are nuts. Two of a kind.