Metamorphosis

I warned you all this day in my pregnancy would come. You didn't believe me. Apologies accepted.

Occupational Hazard

The pharmacist at my local grocery store is hot. In fact, I'm not entirely convinced that Viggo Mortensen isn't moonlighting between films at the South Jordan Harmon's. I'm not typically the swoony type but this man's overt attractiveness kicks in my baser instincts and I can't walk past the Drop-Off counter without an outfit check and a breath mint.

Being incredibly, incredibly, good looking isn't usually something one could categorize as a liability, but medical grade hotness may be an occupational hazard for a pharmacist.

Consider that human sexuality is driven by evolutionary forces. Health and vitality are key elements of attraction. Are you going to sultrily walk up to Dr. Adonis' counter with a prescription for Vagistat? Would you flirtatiously toss your hair while confidently inquiring the difference in effectivity between the generic and name brand hemorrhoidal creams? How many times do you think you can you claim with false pretense that its all "for a friend"? With your name on the prescription, you are bound to be discovered for the sickly liar that you are.

That's why (until I have to fill a prescription for nymphomania) I'm going to Target. The pharmacist there wears dorky glasses, talks to me about his Lego collection, and never, never makes me blush.

CC

Wishes

Spring is here and the dandelions have taken our neighborhood by storm. Of course my children love to pick them and blow the fluffy seed tufts into the air. Inevitably, they will bring me one.

"Make a wish Mommy!"

I take the stem and blow away the fluff.

"What did you wish for?"

"You know I always wish for the same thing..."

"What?" they ask me coyly. As if they don't know the answer.

"That all my kids' dreams will come true."

Satisfied that our ritual is still in place, they run away smiling.

My wish for my children is that they will have the confidence to pursue their passions. That in spite of the nay-sayers and the 'practical' people they will still have the courage to say, "I want to be an artist/actress/author/photographer/filmmaker/musician when I grow up." That when faced with the high-school guidance counselors' doom and gloom statistics on anyone without an engineering or law degree my children will clearly see themselves as the exception.

I want them to dream big and boldly, without limitations or fear. I want them to know that the only thing capable of keeping them from achieving their dreams is their willingness to pursue them. I don't want them to be content relegating their talents to hobbies, or their passions to the weekend. I want their passions to be their life.

We live in a community which seems to draw successful and creative people who have pursued their dreams. Authors and performers, professors and artists, who didn't see providing for a family and pursuing their talents as mutually exclusive. They followed the desires of their hearts.

In a world where success is gaged in terms of wages and investment portfolios, I wish for my children the clarity to define their success by more intangible means. I wish for them personal development, fulfilling relationships, spiritual strength, and realized potential. I wish for them to never have to look back and say, "if only I had tried..."

CC

The Tooth Fairy (or Why I'll Never Win The Mother Of The Year Award)

We forgot to follow through on our oldest child's first lost tooth. He woke us up the next morning carrying the little tooth in his hand, and crestfallen exclaimed, "Mom, she didn't come."

Oops.

Ethan's Letter to the Tooth Fairy:

Dear Tooth Fairy,

I lost my first tooth today. I'll put my tooth under my pillow. My tooth has no cavities or fillings.

My tooth came out because at school I twisted my tooth...and when I got home I let my mom pull it out.

I think I should have 3$ for my tooth.

Ethan

Tooth Fairy's Reply:

Dearest Ethan,

Thank you for the lovely note and beautiful tooth! I am so ashamed that I am late, late, late. In fact it hasn't happened since...well, ask your Grandmother Joan.

I was so busy last night that I had to risk being seen this morning and make this final drop while you were in the shower. You see the hurricane over the Indian Ocean blew me off course and left me scrambling to catch up. Terrible, just terrible!

Considering that this is your first Tooth Fairy experience, and no doubt a disappointing one, I am leaving you $10. I hope you will find that to be adequate compensation given the unfortunate circumstances.

Best Wishes,

The Tooth Fairy

Yeah, that would be us buying down the guilt.

CC