the glory is in the goof

 

If you don’t think glorious and goofy can co-exist, you’ve never met a 3rd grader. I seriously don’t know how Ellen’s neurons are stringing this stuff together, but it is cracking me up. It’s insane and brilliant at the same time.

We were lying in bed snuggling a few nights ago and we started talking about school (snuggle time is when we do all of our serious talking). We were discussing the politics of recess when she mentioned that the boys cuss more when they’re outside. In my ever so subtle, probing way, I asked, “What do you mean? What do they say?” After I gave her permission to “use the words as examples,” she said:

crap
butt
fart
balls

Seriously. Could there be a grosser list?

I said, “You’re kidding?” She quickly offered up a pinky-swear and we started laughing.

It’s probably important to note that I still say “hiney” and “toot.” I’m not sure why –Steve and I are both big believers in correctly naming body parts and we both cuss too much. Somehow, in my upbringing, I was raised believing that the real f-word is fart. While we heard plenty o’ cussin’- we just didn’t use words like that. Of course, Steve thinks the list is funny and isn’t even convinced that balls is a bad word.

As we’re snuggling and laughing, it dawns on me that Ellen may not know what “balls” means. I was always the kid who didn’t know about these things and succumbed to playground misinformation and informal “Q and A” sessions with my friends’ older, pot-smoking siblings. It is very important for me that Ellen and Charlie know they can get good info from us.  I said, “Do you know about balls?” She put her head under the covers and said, “Stop! Yes! I know! And, I know you know, so let’s not talk about it out loud!”

There was dead silence for about 30 seconds, and then we got hysterical. I mean uncontrollable laughter. She screamed, “I have to stop laughing, my guts hurt. We need to think of something bad! Dead doggies. Dead doggies.”

It was the goofiest and most glorious conversation . . . ever in the whole world, no backs!

Comments

[dawn]

Man, do I love that Goose and her funny comments. I love this blog. I am impressed! I cant wait to be more connected to you,your work and your family - my favorite things! This is beautiful.