Pick a Shelf
So Saturdays usually call for a dish of Minecraft and eggs-in-a-nest for the boys. This morning’s run even included a brief documentary on sea pens. I turned on the heater for one of the rare times this year while they breakfasted in the library. Sounds half a ton more fancy than it really is. A frayed sea-blue rug and four overstuffed bookshelves, half of which were reclaimed from my parents’ basement after various rainy weather floods. A small filing cabinet and a desk for both boys. We’re definitely not talking mahogany, marble globes, and smoking jackets by the roaring hearth here.
Puck was over the moon.
He had hoisted himself into the quad of tree limbs pillaring out of the tree in the front yard. All alone with the aid of an upturned bucket for the first time.
What a boy.
Saturday being the worst day ever to shop, we naturally chose this seventh day of the week to plunder for needed goods.
Black frame to doctor my Rembrandt.
Package of miniature books for Puck [those were the days of tiny things I loved].
Shampoo, bobby pins, packing tape… Then all I have to do is look at something four seconds too long and the Bear whisks it from the shelf. This time it was Target’s display of chunky little “emerald green” and “brilliant violet” Moleskines.
I love Moleskines.
Theodore’s car was being covered in plastic by the house painter when we arrived, just in case the wind got a little carried away.
Gloria prepared plates of – sort of old school chicken wings, chopped salad, little peppers with Southwest dip, and chunks of cantaloupe. Puck knocked about a third of that back with two apples and a pear around a passel of flies on the patio.
Then Gloria chatted with the painter upstairs who laughed loudly about church and music, etc. And Theodore fixed up lights and things. Around the always-illusive-ever-intrusive Greek and websites, the Bear boiled balsamic vinegar on the stove to deter the fruit flies. It didn’t take long to find even a better distraction, though. This time it was remaking the old board swing under that high proud oak – or something similar at least – in the back lawn. This included a chipped brick – Puck’s innovative idea to lead the rope over the high branch, and a pair of “squeezers” [pliers]. While Gloria and I scooped up some fresh clothes for Puck at Kohl’s, the Bear and Theodore patched together a new ride on the opposite limb.
The day was fine.
Cool early autumn, these sort of scalloped low gray-white clouds that often accompany this time of year.
When we returned with ties, robots, and other fun stuff, Puck enjoyed a soaring swing on the double-roped seat. He was also packed off with a new pair of space ship and planets footy pajamas. Just in time for cold weather.
As Puck was packed into the blankets that night…
“Goodnight little sucker-punch,” the Bear said to him.
“Goodnight, big sucker-punch,” Puck grinned back.
Thought of the Day
Sometimes I wonder – in the part of my brain that doesn’t like to explore scientific subjects – if this concept of the seas rising around the world in general is maybe – on a super finely small percentage point – increased by the displacement of water.
Displaced by… volcanic activity (new land emergence), thousands of years of sunk ships, crafts, and cargo, increased ocean-going vessels especially in the modern era, expanding man-made land (Dubai, etc.), erosion of beaches and shorelines, etc…
I’m sure there’s always a give and take between these things.
But I still wonder if maybe all these shipwrecks, eroded shorelines… all these bits and pieces and trunk-loads of junk and organic material adding to the ocean floor… maybe it contributes to this “ocean levels rising” business.
I think I’m wrong.
But these “little” kinds of things are interesting anyway.
For me, at least.