Day 313
The other day I was at the post office – standing in a long line of pre-holiday patrons awaiting my turn up at the counter, just like the rest of the people in line were awaiting their turn. The line was not moving. At all. And so I struck up a conversation with the very chatty 4 year old who was standing in front of me.
She was a cute little thing … holding tightly to a stuffed antelope. It, too, was a cute little thing.
I asked her a few questions and her chattiness turned into sealed lips in seconds as I was not getting much more than a shrug as a shy reply until prompted by her mom. I then got an answer when I asked her what her favorite animal was … and if it was the little antelope that she was holding.
Her reply was not what I expected – which was … “No, silly … my favorite animal is a SQUID.”
Like I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN this tidbit of personal information! She practically rolled her eyes at my stupidity!
Okay, two can play at this game kid. I continued asking her questions and she continued supplying me with answers …
Why is it your favorite animal? – Because they are cute.
What is so cute about them? – I like their legs. They move fast.
Would you like to hold one? – Yes. I’d like to kiss him.
Do you think they smell funny? – Yes! (complete with scrunched up nose) – They’re stinky!
Have you ever seen one? – Just in a book but mom said there was one in our yard one night.
At this answer the mom was laughing so I figured there was some behind-the-scenes story that I was not privy to!
And so our little repartee went until we were nearly at the front of the line. The mom had been chuckling for a while but listening to us and encouraging this continuation of the conversation. And as they were summoned to the counter the mom turned back to me and said, “SKUNK. She meant to say SKUNK … not SQUID!”
Ha … okay, so she wasn’t such a little weirdo!
In any case … it made me think back to when my kids were little and animated and fun and into their “babies” (aka: stuffed animals). Sam was into the “normal” ones … the ones easily found in any toy store … bunnies, lambs, kitties, pigs, hippos, seals. She wasn’t too particular as she pretty much adored anything cute … and so she had a LOT of furry babies! I think my favorite of hers was the tusked walrus … complete with baby (whom she named Fudge). Too cute!
Ted was another story. He always wanted the unusual animals … the nearly impossible to find. Stuffed animals that always demanded a trip to the zoo gift shop or specialty toy store … the manta ray, the chameleon, the anteater … and even then it was slim to none that I’d find the ONE animal he wanted for Christmas.
One year he wanted a TAPIR. What kid even knows what a damn tapir is … and Ted had his heart set on getting one from Santa. This was 20 some years ago … pre-internet searches and Amazon … so, a LOT of footwork and phone calls were made in tracking these critters down!
Traditionally, Santa would come early and leave a stuffed animal on the doorstep for each of the kids before bedtime on Christmas Eve. Santa always somehow dropped off his early gifts when the kids were brushing their teeth. We’d hear his bells and we’d race down the stairs to find the animals on the front porch and of course, Santa would be long gone – back to the reindeer and the skies! The kids would drift off to sleep cuddling their new “babies” and the newest members of our family would be glued to the kids for days and days and weeks and weeks!
Oh, those were the days. I’m not sure who enjoyed those stuffed animals the most … Ted, Sam … or ME!
And somehow year after year Santa found the wanted animals. Even the tapir that year. I’m just glad no one ever asked for a squid!