The Realm of Possibilities

Daniel is often asking me whether certain hypothetical people, things, circumstances - all of which come out of his own creative, fertile, speculative mind - actually exist in the Real World. And, no matter how innovative the categories might seem, if their potential existence doesn't defy the possibilities of the known universe, then I never deny them outright. If I don't know that something Daniel can imagine *doesn't* exist, or that it *can't* exist, then there's no reason to rule it out as a concrete possibility in our vast, colorful world.

For example, Daniel was asking tonight whether there exist - in the world - any icons that have an inset transparent vile or case containing "prosphora," or blessed bread. Daniel spelled out the vision in terms which I think might appeal to his taste: you're in church and there's an icon with a little case in front of it, and you can just go and open out the case, take out a piece of blessed bread, eat it, and go on with the service. I'm sure if we had such icons, Daniel would manage to keep very busy in church... This scenario is far beyond my imagination, but I have no proof that such a thing does not exist, so, as he ran each detail by me and asked for a confirmation, I consistently refrained from ruling it out altogether as an unmitigated Danielian fantasy. However, apparently he eventually got tired of my very cautious, open-ended way of answering his questions. In the midst of his interrogation, he stopped and instructed me:

"Daddy, stop saying "Not that I know of."

(November 16, 2011)