Artists Out on a Date

I had Friday off, so Amy had a "date" with Daniel and I had a designated day with Madeleine, both of which involved medical visits. Amy took Daniel for a routine pediatric check-up, followed by fun on the "town" otherwise known as The Mall of New Hampshire. Madeleine and I took Ruthie to the veterinarian, and eventually Ian entered the equation, and we had some quality stir-fry at Food Court on the town, accompanied by extensive time in the play area and an extended visit to the Stride Rite shop which is going out of business next month and offers everything at 50% off.

All that being said, Amy and Daniel did something I wouldn't normally do on a date: they visited a plaster workshop inside the mall and each made, and painted, their own items. Amy had to go through a significant process just negotiating with Daniel what he could and couldn't choose from among the set of plaster casts. His last visit is a tough act to follow: Aunt Ali let him choose Frankenstein, and he did a frighteningly good job painting him green and black, and sometimes carries him around the house like his own prized, and hard-earned, Emmy or Grammy or some similar idol-like figurine.

Amy said that Daniel was visibly very moved at the chance to have a date with her, and as they left the mall, he did something unusual for himself: he promenaded through the mall, quietly holding her hand (and probably smiling).

In any case, the next day, I had to go pick up their treasured projects. Amy's was a merry, rotund Santa Claus, carrying a bag of apples. Daniel's was a tank. About the size and shape of a small thesaurus, of course with the label "U S A" on the side. Daniel is very talented, in the realm of graphic arts - probably ahead of me, even at my advanced age, although I'm no basis of comparison. And of course, he did an excellent job on this beloved vehicle.

(December 23 - 24, 2011)