Cheese Feelings

Buzzing around as we packed up for a "family walk" downtown, Julia overheard Shannon and I say that Julia could share a scone and a string cheese. She did not hear us say that she'd share the cheese with Vivi, the scone with me. And but so, she came downstairs to find me quickly eating a string cheese as I packed up their water and some other stuff - stuffing myself as parents have to do when there's literally no time all morning to eat a regular meal. She watched me, silent and imploring, eat the first half of the stick, then made sad sounds as I popped the rest in my mouth.


"Daddy, aren't you sharing?" she asked, on the verge of tears. "Honey, no, this is my string cheese." (Honestly, does any food more instantly infantilize a person than string cheese?) "But you said you would share!!!!" and erupted in tears. Being a bit of a dim bulb, I caught on at this point, reassuring her that we were bringing another string cheese along on the walk, and that she share that one with Vivi, and a scone with me. She instantly stopped crying, of course, but then fixed me with her saddest, seriousest eyes: "Daddy, next time you eat a cheese stick, don't hurt my feelings." I felt terrible. Then she brightened and said, with masterful indirection, "Daddy, don't you think you will like a cranberry-orange scone?"


If fact, I knew I would.

Forecast: Significant blowing and drifting, with the possibility of heavy accumulation in rural areas.