Observations, watching the children watch "Treasure Island"

1. Daniel constantly asking about each character, "Is he a good guy or a bad guy."

2. Daniel gaining a valuable insight: "I think the sailors are the good guys and the pirates are the bad guys."

3. [At high points:] Ohhhh! I can't watch! [Daniel dramatically slaps both hands over his face and presses them against it, to block out the scary scene, without a trace of humor or hyperbole*.]

4. Ian - singing his version of "ho-ho-ho and A Bottle of Rum": "We drink beer and a bottle of rum."

5. Madeleine: Daddy, pirates!

Me: Do you like pirates?

Madeleine: Yeah.

6. "Daddy, can we one time get a pirate's flag and a pirate's ship?" [Daniel, of course.]

(December 26, 2010)

*Follow up: Daniel told me today that "Treasure Island," which we watched on DVD at home and was produced decades ago, is scarier than "The Chronicles of Narnia," which we watched in a theater and came out late this year.