PhD

[vaneramos]

Brenna frequently reminds me of one of the Mystics from The Dark Crystal. It's partly her posture, partly her fascination with small objects on the ground, and partly her capacity to sit for long periods without doing anything of consequence, which was, of course, the Mystics' greatest gift.

It is a perfect summer day: warm with a refreshing breeze. Brenna spends a while sitting in the branches of Old Man Willow, feeling his limbs rock gently, while I poke around photographing little and big things. Cicadas drone and red-eyed vireos warble relentlessly, a kingfisher darts silently upstream, and a bemused catbird utters a sudden interrogative overhead.

Brenna: "I like trees today."

Me: "It's a good day to be a tree."

Brenna: "They have big hair. When I grow up I want to be a tree. Or a hobo bent on world conquest."

Me: "You'll need a degree in photosynthesis."

Brenna: "Maybe that's what PhD stands for."

Comments

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

that's so charming! me, though, i'll be keeping my eye on the hoboes.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

hehe, she has a way with words!

[fivecats.livejournal.com]

Careful. One day she's going to surprise you and show you the wings she has hidden on her back.

("Of course, silly. I'm a girl!")

...

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Hehe, it's such a clever movie, one of my favourites. Yes, I'll be keeping on eye on her.

[ubermunkey.livejournal.com]

great post and pics

I've not met your girls, but in my mind I can hear your conversations as if I were a fly observing. I can hear the slightly amused tone in your voice and see the slight grin/smile.

Great stuff Van

Love
Connor

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

But the joke is they're cleverer than me. ;-)
I was aching to introduce you to them when you were in Toronto, but I figured, "All in good time."
Love,
Van

[missprune.livejournal.com]

A hobo bent on world conquest?! What a trip! That first portrait must be one of the most beautiful photographs you hae ever taken, and one of the loveliest portraits I think I've ever seen.

[missprune.livejournal.com]

oops laddy i guess my scotch accent was commin oot a wee bit there.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

It portrays these essence of summer and childhood, doesn't it? That shot is the one she picked out of a slew I had taken yesterday.

[hankdmoose.livejournal.com]

When I grow up I want to be a tree. Or a hobo bent on world conquest.

An absolutely beautiful thing to say! I, too, have said I want to be a tree when I grow up (even recently), but the hobo bent on world conquest is a new one on me! :)

I love the stories you tell of your daughters. They are such interesting and thoughtful young women. Truly unique, and they seem so happy to be who they are. It's a shame all young women can't have the same attitudes toward their individualities that Brenna and Marian do.

Also, The Dark Crystal is a fantastic movie... I haven't seen it in far too long. I should correct that, and soon.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

An absolutely beautiful thing to say!

Too bad you couldn't hear the slightly wicked tone in her voice. ;-)

For them to be happy with themselves is the thing I want most.

And The Dark Crystal is an amazing movie. I bought it earlier this year and we've already watched it a number of times.

[hankdmoose.livejournal.com]

Too bad you couldn't hear the slightly wicked tone in her voice. ;-)

That just makes it all the better! ;) Part of the reason I've always wanted to be a tree is so I could mess with people. You know, move around in the middle of the night... that sort of thing.

Your attitude toward parenting is very refreshing. Your posts have given me a lot to think about in the event that I ever have children of my own.

[taniwhanui.livejournal.com]

She looks older in the second photo. Lovely thoughts. Very original and imaginative. Just being is a good skill to have cultivated, also. (:

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

It's a skill I've always tried to instill in them. That reminds me of an article I wrote six years ago. It's a little awkward to read because of the way the website has messed up the layout, but I still like it:

The nobility of just being.

[marian-w.livejournal.com]

I remember that day. I was just thinking about it sometime this week.
Gahd, I miss shopping with her, what a great kid.
This is crazy, I miss my sister.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

She can cheer a person up, can't she?