Along with millions of others, we sat around the house today, bloated and tired.
I had to convince Brook to go with Katie and I to the Festival of Trees out at Timonium fairgrounds. I thought it would be a relaxing 'kick off' to the Christmas season. After all, the advertisement featured a tranquil setting, beautiful sparkling trees, and a few people milling about.
Boy was I wrong. The parking lot should have been our cue to turn around and get out.
We considered it, Katie had fallen asleep. She'd never know!
'It's for a good cause honey', I said.
While waiting in line to get in we were assaulted by holiday music pumping out of a fuzzy speaker, making it impossible to feel any sort of fa-la-la.
Once inside, there were thousands of people.
Thousands.
I was impressed by the size of it all, and there were amazing trees, lights, and booths of crafters selling their wares, but the crowd made it impossible (for Brook and I) to enjoy it.
Katie, however, was tickled at the penguin wishing well, the carousel whirling about at an alarming speed, and, of course, the reindeer ponies.
It was a given that Katie would not be made to stand in the line for a pony ride, and so while she and Brook walked around, I stood, with other parents, and tried not to share their look of haggardness.
Little boys crying 'I want to go home'!
Their fathers saying 'no, Billy, your really going to like this'!
Have you seen the movie, the Christmas one about the Red Ryder BB gun? Where Ralphie and his little brother are in line to see Santa at the department store, and there is pandemonium all about? That is what happened today.
We were there such a short time, but my mind was racing with thoughts.
'Is this what the rest of my life is going to be like?
Will we have to submit ourselves to this sort of torture in the name of 'fun'?
And, worse, is it always going to be at my prodding and suggestion?
Thankfully, Katie was oblivious to it all. When it came time, she wanted to ride on the white pony, named Misty.
I put her on, and they were led around and around and around. I walked beside her, and Brook took pictures. He knew he had to or he was going to catch hell from me. I figure if we can walk away with one good shot for the memory, it was time well spent.
After that, we went to buy a sandwich and after not finding a place to sit, we were like 'let's get the hell out of here'. I mean, 'let's go have a picnic in the van'!
After all, it was a balmy 30 degrees. Nothing like perfect picnic weather!
On the way home, Katie said 'Thank you Daddy, that was so much fun!!'
And the way his shoulders relaxed as he looked at her in the rear view mirror said it all.
It isn't about us anymore, it is about her.
Happy Thanksgiving.
I had to convince Brook to go with Katie and I to the Festival of Trees out at Timonium fairgrounds. I thought it would be a relaxing 'kick off' to the Christmas season. After all, the advertisement featured a tranquil setting, beautiful sparkling trees, and a few people milling about.
Boy was I wrong. The parking lot should have been our cue to turn around and get out.
We considered it, Katie had fallen asleep. She'd never know!
'It's for a good cause honey', I said.
While waiting in line to get in we were assaulted by holiday music pumping out of a fuzzy speaker, making it impossible to feel any sort of fa-la-la.
Once inside, there were thousands of people.
Thousands.
I was impressed by the size of it all, and there were amazing trees, lights, and booths of crafters selling their wares, but the crowd made it impossible (for Brook and I) to enjoy it.
Katie, however, was tickled at the penguin wishing well, the carousel whirling about at an alarming speed, and, of course, the reindeer ponies.
It was a given that Katie would not be made to stand in the line for a pony ride, and so while she and Brook walked around, I stood, with other parents, and tried not to share their look of haggardness.
Little boys crying 'I want to go home'!
Their fathers saying 'no, Billy, your really going to like this'!
Have you seen the movie, the Christmas one about the Red Ryder BB gun? Where Ralphie and his little brother are in line to see Santa at the department store, and there is pandemonium all about? That is what happened today.
We were there such a short time, but my mind was racing with thoughts.
'Is this what the rest of my life is going to be like?
Will we have to submit ourselves to this sort of torture in the name of 'fun'?
And, worse, is it always going to be at my prodding and suggestion?
Thankfully, Katie was oblivious to it all. When it came time, she wanted to ride on the white pony, named Misty.
I put her on, and they were led around and around and around. I walked beside her, and Brook took pictures. He knew he had to or he was going to catch hell from me. I figure if we can walk away with one good shot for the memory, it was time well spent.
After that, we went to buy a sandwich and after not finding a place to sit, we were like 'let's get the hell out of here'. I mean, 'let's go have a picnic in the van'!
After all, it was a balmy 30 degrees. Nothing like perfect picnic weather!
On the way home, Katie said 'Thank you Daddy, that was so much fun!!'
And the way his shoulders relaxed as he looked at her in the rear view mirror said it all.
It isn't about us anymore, it is about her.
Happy Thanksgiving.
1 comment:
katie really is a dazzling child. now tell me, where can i get a spartacus costume??
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