read the printed word!

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Look Ma, No Hands!

I never know what's going to come out of their mouths, especially while riding in the car. Guess which one spouted off this little gem ...

"Guess what I can do without my hands! Watch!"

Response from brother: "I can do that. I touch my nose with my tongue all the time. Watch me."

"But I can PICK my nose! Now I don't need my fingers!"

I should rent him out for parties.

During this same car ride I listened to the radio, including a brief report about the shooting at NIU. The Valentine's Day Campus Massacre, they're calling it. Nice catchy name. And yet, not catchy enough to break through the shield of innocence protecting the little ones in the back seat.

They're not totally oblivious to the violence and tragedy that permeates the world around them. They just prefer to play it out, or put it into the context of a movie (and movies are not real, as they often remind me). Even my own cynicism doesn't shake them. In fact, it is those moments, those "Look Ma, no hands" moments, that keep me grounded in the here and now.

I refuse to submit to the suburban terrorists. I'm not staying home, cowering in my closet, afraid to go to the mall. But I'm not staying quiet, either. When a certain politician says he will do "whatever it takes" to end the violence, this mother is going to hold him to that promise. And yes it does mean taking away everybody's guns.

How fast will the NRA cave when faced with a contingent of expert booger-flinging kindergartners? WHATEVER IT TAKES.

1 comment:

Perpetual Chocoholic said...

I'd rent out your kids! That's too amusing!

I also refuse to be held in the house like a hostage. I go out after dark alone which I am told is just crazy, but I've always done so and refuse to stop.