Apple Juice in a Favorite Mug, and Wardrobe Wistfulness

Tonight, Madeleine and Daniel shared a small juice-box of apple juice, which Daniel diligently poured out into two separate glasses. Madeleine made a point of giving me a sip of hers, which of course I had to accept no matter what, just to rise to the occasion. Daniel became aware of this sharing event, and quickly came into the dining room and presented me with a small cup containing several solid teaspoons of apple juice - a special ration just for me, from his own portion.

I was especially touched by the cup that he used - his own school picture, Daniel beaming a quite celebrity-worthy smile, lookin' very fetching, with the American flag draped behind him (Daniel would have it no other way) thanks to the magic of Photoshop, or some similar software. I showed properly profuse gratitude to the lad - we certainly want to encourage spontaneous generosity and acts of love - and I showed particular, sincere pleasure in the fact that the juice came in a mug bearing the picture of "one of my favorite people in the whole world." Daniel's fist wagged up and down in front of his chest in an outburst of happiness, along with a big smile.

However, by Daniel's reckoning, it turns out that his school picture was actually deficient, showing him in the standard button-down elementary-school-child's-picture dress shirt. He volunteered this criticism of his wardrobe:

"I should have been in Spiderman pajamas, but you can't wear pajamas to school unless it's Pajama Day, and it wasn't Pajama Day."

(February 9, 2012)