the theater, the museum and the universe

Last weekend, Ruby, my wife and I went to the movies to see the latest version of Doctor Seuss' "Horton Hears A Who," a poignant story of questioning the dogmas of supposed authority and belief. It had Ruby dancing out of her seat as the credits rolled. We experienced the Please Touch Museum, which was fun to be involved in, art as tangible and transcendent, quite human. Also, we visited The Franklin Institute and witnessed those historical portraits of discovery and invention, the Planitarium showing us our universe, where we might lose ourselves, if not for our part in it. Breath-taking, really, the world as a stage.

Ruby and I Reprise

Culpadirect is my friend Kevin's blog. Recently, he posted a watercolor which is the cover illustration of our new musical collaboration, "hope you're satisfied vol. 1". This drawing was made by Ruby. Recently, Ruby and I talked about Magic. She said it wasn't real. I said it was. Maybe it has to do with what you don't see, which is still there, like the wind in the heart-shaped trees, or the train that whistles distant and lonely outside the window of her bedroom, how we are where we are not, in thoughts, in prayers, in things we make up, like a painting.

Culpa Direct

Culpa Direct

icky rainbows

Ruby and I were on Frankford Ave., crossing the damp street where she noted there were rainbows. I said the oils there make it seem so. She said, "Eww...but rainbows are pretty, not icky." I said some rainbows are icky. She replied, "No way!" She likes to walk on the curb of the sidewalk because she says a girl needs balance, boys don't. I have to wonder at that. Recently, she ran a fever and had a breakout around her lips, cold sores. When she went back to school, recovering, a couple of girls remarked, "Eww, what's that?" and so on. Topically, my wife said to her to tell the girls it would go away, don't worry about it, and ask them, "By the way, were you made in China?" That confused them, what happens to you coming from somewhere else, altering the appearance of things, making you aware of yourself, in another context. My daughter is as beautiful as ever.

spelling lesson

lately, Ruby is writing sounding out words, writing them down, drawing them, really. the other day, she asked, "Daddy, does this spell 'heart'?" It was h-u-r-t. I showed her how to spell it, but thought how much the two words relate and define one another, mirroring our humaness.

franklin square and balloons

Yesterday, Ruby, my wife and I went to Franklin Square; it was a perfect Fall afternoon, almost cloudless, that bright blue sky that is close to unreal, trees, a sea of burnt reds, oranges, yellows and greens, a lovely shudder of nascent air. We all got on the carousel, wide-eyed and expectant of a world going around and around, up and down, riding nowhere, the most special destination sometimes. I took a photograph of Ruby in front of it; she was in between poses. I think that is interesting and funny, her being aware of who she is portraying , making a face, affecting a manner, for the camera.
The other night, we were listening to music of a band called "Of Montreal." Ruby was trying to keep a balloon from hitting the floor,kind of dancing at the same time. I was, too, when it got away from her, then touched it back to her. But she wanted to play by herself, like usual. I explained that life is all about how you share balloons.

Tinkerbell and the Tooth Fairy

Last Wenesday was Halloween and Ruby was Tinkerbell; I had to work, so I couldn't trick or treat with her. But I saw photographs and she definitely got into character. She wore her costume like she was ready for theater of her own imagination, make-up and wings and a magic wand included.
Last night, she lost her first tooth and my wife and I told her to leave it under the pillow for the Tooth Fairy, who give her a present. She was amazed at her tooth, tinier than I'd expect, but still momentous, a signifier of change. She was worried the other kids at school would poke fun at her; but we reassured her the other kids would go through the same thing.
In the morning, she ran into our room, "Look what the Tooth Fairy gave me, a dollar!" We were all dumbfounded and awe-struck over what happens, when seasons and people transform and the mystery is in and around us.