When I knew enough to know nothing at all

I drove my daughter to college yesterday, and moved her into the same dorm that I moved into 26 years ago. I hope she eventually goes to a party like this one. (Oh, and studies hard! Yes, lots of studying!)

Guess which one is me.

(And if you want a history of the Chimera SF Fan Club, click on the picture. There may be a few more compromising photos over there, too.)

Poetry Friday: Drive-by Truckers

When you marry someone, you don't always understand the things they love. My husband doesn't really fathom why I love beets or fried baloney. And I fail to see the beauty of the battered tin cup that holds his loose change or the appeal of the coat he's owned since 1982. But, I did get him to love yoga and The Prydain Chronicles, and he introduced me to Neko Case and loud, fast jets.

We are celebrating 23 years of marriage tomorrow. So, for Poetry Friday, here are the lyrics to a song he loves. I think it's growing on me, too.

The songwriter, Jason Isbell says this: This (song) focuses on the advice I got growing up, mostly from my father. We recorded the song just before Father's Day and I gave Dad a copy as a present:

Don’t call what you're wearing an outfit. Don’t ever say your car is broke.
Don’t worry about losing your accent, a Southern Man tells better jokes.
Have fun but stay clear of the needle. Call home on your sister’s birthday.
Don’t tell them you’re bigger than Jesus, don’t give it away....
Full lyrics here

-----Outfit, by the Drive-by Truckers, from their album, Decoration Day

Poetry Friday is hosted by Kelly Fineman

Peace Through Puppets

I clipped this article from The Washington Post about Peace Through Puppets a few weeks ago, and knew right away that I would blog about it. Why?

First, because moms come through when you need them, even when they're 80 and you're 57 and 6-foot-5.

Second, I have a mini-collection of puppets, including a three-headed dragon marionette from Prague, a momma/baby elephant pair from Thailand, some vintage finger puppet sets like Little Red Riding Hood and assorted animal figures with wooden heads, and a cloth box from which three adorable mice poke up that my daughter used to take on babysitting jobs. I also had a plush donkey puppet growing up that I would make real by licking its nose to make it wet and then goosing my sister with it.

Finally, I love knowing that many of the puppets stay with the Iraqi children who need them.

Peace to you and them.

NEW: More about the power of puppets from BookMoot

NEW: String Theory: A fantastic post about the marionettes of Prague from the blog, Curious Expeditions