It's Scarlett's world...I just write about it!

Boo (hoo) at the Zoo!

My little girl is growing up so fast, but as we really submerge ourselves in that difficult period known as the Terrible Twos, Im learning that, in some ways, my biggie girl is a bigger baby NOW than ever before.

I'll get to that in a minute.

 Being an Ohio University gal, I puffy heart Halloween. More than birthdays, more than Fourth of July and it runs complete circles around Christmas. So it only makes sense that I've been prepping Scarlett on the whole Trick-or-Treat deal since August. She made it clear last month that she'd be dressing up as Thomas for Halloween. She fell in love with pumpkins, hay bales, orange & purple lights and anything else related to the holiday.

Then, I made the brilliant decision to take her to Boo at the Zoo last weekend...with her cousin, Stella, grammy and some friends. I couldn't wait. She loves the zoo...she loves to wear her Thomas costume around the house, and she loves her friends and cousin. Win-win, right? Wrong.

Upon our arrival, my usually very cheeky engine immediately showed signs of discontent. She wouldn't wear her costume. She didn't laugh at other costumes. The giant pumpkins annoyed her. The festival of purple and orange lights, and giant pumpkin displays, repulsed her. She was a volcano...just waiting to erupt..I could almost see the lava, bubbling under the surface.

 Quickly, I made sure I was ready for a quick exit. Unlike Mr. Buffett, I did know where I would go, when the volcano blows....running frantically for the parking lot...kid and stroller in tow. Within minutes of entering the zoo's gates, Mt. Scarlett DID explode into tears and screams...begging to be taken home. sigh.

Maybe she thought she'd see more animals (apparently they're not fans of 'Boo' either because most of them were hiding in their dens & cages)...maybe she was overtired, or maybe I've got a big scaredy cat on my hands right now. Either way, it wasn't fun for any of us involved.

Other parents who've experienced the "Two's" laugh at my story. One mom told me, "with a toddler, expect the unexptected". I guess I will.

So now when we venture out in public, I study her every move, facial expression, and tone of voice. I'm a "Scarlett scientist", if you will...trying to read her & predict her next meltdown. Because it will happen again. Soon. And I still dont' know where I'm a-gonna go when the volcano blows, but where I go, I hope there's Rum...

 
Exhibit A. forcing the costume on a very unhappy engine

Exhibit B.  You can see the early stages of complete meltdown just by looking at her face,  while cousin Stella & friend, Chase, look happily on.

Exhibit C. Thomas the Train in happier times, pre-Boo at the Zoo

 

Another Trip Around the Sun

 I'm old enough to begin dreading each and every birthday.

Yet I'm immature enough to still expect a celebration.

My "love" relationships with October 9th has turned into one of those "I-Hate-You-But-I -Love-You" no-win affairs. If my birthday were a human, I"m sure any therapist would tell me to break it off.

On One hand...its another "new start". I become very reflective this time of year...thinking deeply about what this last trip around the sun has taught me about life...and what I hope to accomplish on this next year long journey. I of course, take time to realize the blessings I've received.

I also, each year, lament the passing of the youth that is slipping farther away from my grasp. I don't listen to country but I heard a song in the dr's office that struck me recently...and I now its background noise in my brain..

"When did the choices get so hard?
With so much more at stake.
Life gets mighty precious when theres less of it to waste."

Anyway, the day came and went. Heard Scarlett in her crib that morning, singing "Happy Birthday Mommy...we eat cake". I could've melted. Had a great dinner with friends that night. Found out that I got a 100% on a 10 page paper I wrote last week. Recieved a new Coach wallet for my new Coach purse.

And Now I embark on 35 with definite plans in place, specific hopes for the next year, and a rough outline as to how I'll accomplish what I need to do. I plan to aggressively fight the aging process crows feet that are getting out of control.

When I recieved my "People' magazine this week..The cover screamed out at me, " People Is Celebrating its 35th Birthday"....

Who knew? My longtime BFF Mag, who I've subscribed to for 20 years, is the same age as me. This is the magazine that I look forward to every week. That I will sit in the tub with a glass of wine with, and read cover to cover on Friday nights. (yeah, that tells you about my social life). I have a love-love relationship with People magazine.  This week's issue was a look back at the last 35 years &  included a page of celebrties that are 35 years old now...(of course I can't see the crows feet on any of them...) So, Happy Birthday People! At least I can look forward to getting older, with you!