The Way Things Should Be

That little boy
whose passion is music
and computers
and vacuum cleaners
and cricket phones
whose whole being is Joy
is far away.


That little boy
on stroller walks
who sat content

and babbled mystery talk

whose laughter meant
everything
is far away.


That little boy

who loved to be a dog
and his boyish things
bare feet in clover
and playground swings
eating bread reserved for
ducks at the pond
who was fond of apples
and broccoli "trees"
who missed his mama
whenever he was somewhere else
with us . . .

is now going to light up the day
and point out the moon
for others who love him

just as much
as we do.

How I miss that little boy,
Jack.

Love Always ~ Mimi


Good fortune and happiness to James, Trisha & Jackson in their new home in Bakersfield, CA.

How To Carve a JACK o'Lantern & other interesting pursuits

First:

The Daddy demonstrates proper technique. It is very important to proceed with only the best equipment on hand. A sharp blade goes a long way.

It is also helpful to prepare for any eventuality. (Participants are situated in the kitchen, where food and juice are readily available). And at least one assailant is wearing combat fatigues.

Second:
After initial excursion through the epithelial,
gross-out is often an immediate reaction.

Extraction of the superficial and basal flesh is achieved only with careful and focused exertion.
A pumpkin-load of reproductive organs are a pesky, sticky, and fascinating hindrance.

Third: The cavity finally excavated, some element of success is perceived though not completely understood.

Fourth: Replacing the skull-cap is second only to the joy of wearing the fresh splatter-pattern on your face.
Pumpkin-lust now fully awakened, the subject is thoroughly committed to the slaughter of an even larger, more formidible specimen.

A traditional follow-up to the carving operation involves indulging innocent children's fantasies with colorful, cute costumes of recognizable and beloved characters from classic children's literature or young children's entertainment entities.

One's backpack should always have the necessities, as - well, you can see here.

Always high on the list of seasonal delights, is a visit to the petting zoo.

Jack is thrilled with the tactile experience of clutching a squirming, squealing piglet. The fact that his beautiful mommy is likewise clutching him is a precious irony completely lost on him.

A literal blue Bucket o'Chicks is probably the best of the best in a full day's agenda. (Get a load of the pansy-fireman get up - sheeesh. That poor kid is almost as embarrassed to be seen in public as the girl in the sissy Snow White outfit held in her dada's arms to the left...)

Failing to provide the Sleep Disorders Clinic with any reliable data, JACK concludes a long day's tutorial with nothing less than cosmic aplomb.

Nite-nite, Jack.

*this post is the result of a surprise photo folder I somehow missed viewing when the action was current!

Bat Jack

Walking benignly among us ~ the common ones, is he who is Prince of Batness. Gifted, physically coordinated, articulate and dedicated to an emerging 6th sense reserved only for those who know the mysterious call of Greatness. Observing the refining process is our pleasure, and privilege.

Even the Dark Knight has an inner-child . . .And an itchy ear.

He has a love of picture books.

A fondness for hide-n-seek in the laundry room.Every Super Hero struggles with an inner-rage; it is what compels him to heights of daring and extreme limits of physical performance. A picture of stealth and cunning, the be-stockinged Dark Knightlet calculates his next heroic move.While the trials and foibles of the apprentice Super Hero are exhausting, rewards are very sweet indeed.

In fact, the Bat Jack easily elicits shock and astonishment from those who witness his amazing feats first hand.

Others, knowingly recognize a little of themselves bundled in new, smaller packaging. They envy the cape. Wisely, they speak their longing to no one.

Giggling like little girls, playing photo-booth is always a refreshing break from the pressure of extended family gatherings, even if the Batling is present and willing to perform.

Beautiful boys have beautiful mothers. They carefully follow the exploits of super-offspring. They worry. They encourage. They inspire with a soft, musical voice. They clean-up. They scold ever so gently only when Bat Powers are at their lowest ebb . . .

Bat Dads have strong arms always open to a little batling in need of comfort.

It is not weakness on the part of the young Knight, but a temporary release of energy his delightful metamorphosis requires.

The future of a hapless city anxiously awaits . . .

* The Inner-child Dark Knight, The Batling, Bat Jack
aka Jackson Gabriel Tanner age 27 mo.  Bat years = 6 weeks, 2 days

A Jack Kind of Day

Today is sunny & beautiful. It is the kind of day that needs a little boy, some water, and a dog. Here is the little boy: Here is the dog:
And here is the water. Today is definitely a Jack Kind of Day. C'mon!

Today is a good day for pool time. See Jack in the water spouts! Hurry, Jack ~ catch the water in your cup.
Catch the water and pour it out again. You can do it!
Which water spout to choose? They are all beautiful. Jack is very focused. He is a boy thoroughly enjoying his fun, new spouty-pool.
This is an excellent time to have a drink. Look!
Look who is playing with Jack on a Jack Kind of Day! It is Auntie Asia. She is very clever. She is teaching Jack how to put a big, juicy grapefruit inside his cap. Jack is not confused. He knows a good splash weapon when he sees one. Splash, Jack!
Now Jack is confused. He thinks this fly is a bee. Can you see the fly? (It is to the right of Asia's fake henna tattoo she got in Mexico. ¡Qué artistica!) The fly is Jack's friend. He crawls around so gently, so gently on Jack's little arm. When the fly flies away, Jack sweetly says "Bye-bye." Jack is polite.

LOOK! Oh my goodness - what is that? Jack runs to see. He is a curious boy.

It is a big, black carpenter bee! What fun! Wheee! There he goes, Jack!

No, now he is over there...! Jack is a genius. He can track a flying oddity with super-natural honing powers. See Jack's superior attention-locking gaze:
See Jack in point: He has tracked the bee to a hole in a grapefruit tree. Good work, boy!
Speaking of grapefruits ~ Ellie has stolen Jack's water bomb fruit. She will not let him get it. She runs so fast, so fast. She taunts poor Jack by dropping the grapefruit, then racing off with it as soon as he reaches for it. Run, Jack! Run, Ellie!

No worries. Jack has vast and resourceful cognitive skills. His problem-solving frontal lobe suggests a method by which he may easily achieve his purpose...

Jack's game is on top once again.

After a hugely successful picnic lunch, it is a good time for a bath. All clean! Jack is generous. He hugs Grandpa a million times. Maybe a hundred fifty twenty and a half million times.

Oh, Look! A favorite person is home from school. Hello, "Say-chell"! Kisses!

Good-bye, Ellie! Good-bye, Moe! What a fun time. What a fun day! A truly Jack Kind of Day.
Bye-bye, Jack.