HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Twenty-five years ago today, a very special young man entered our family’s life, and he has been inimitable and unmistakeable ever since. Happy quarter century, Jeremy Long, may the road ahead be a mix of valleys and mountains, thunderstorms and rainbows, freeways and logging roads.

Photo: Lee Long

IS THIS LOVE? / THIS IS LOVE.

Dear?
she said sweetly,
interrupting our thread of conversation about the genius of Nassim Taleb, or Gladwell's new essay on young men and violence, or the sadness of Godard and Truffaut's friendship over time, or something of the sort.

She said this very sweetly.
Yes?
I said, keeping my eye glued to the road ahead, hands at 7 and 6.

The speed limit's 70.
she said.

Yep.
I confirmed.

But if you want to go 60,
she said.
That's okay too.

Okay.
I said.
I just get to talking with you and the world slows down.

Actually,
she said.
I don't think it's the world that's slowing down. That's you driving really slow.
____

Note: I completely fabricated her last sentence. It just seems like it could have been an interesting thing for her to say in the moment. Maybe we'll talk about it on the way to somewhere today, or tomorrow.

IN WHICH WE ARRIVE HOME LATE, AND THAT'S THE KIND OF HELPFUL I AM.

So...
the truck salesman asked my dad.
...what kind of extra options are important to you?

I jumped in, just to help my Pop out and show off my helpfulness.
I think,
I said,
that it would be pretty cool to have a rearview mirror.

And I realised a short while later that the salesman did not, in fact, find me very helpful. So, disappointing. But honestly, rear view mirrors are so important, and you can hang cool things from them.

December 12th. In which we arrive home late after a long day of working hard, playing hard, and driving lots. It's probably a great thing to have strict bedtimes for your kids, but it just seems like there's so much to miss out on if you don't make exceptions every once in a while. Or...on a regular basis. What can I say? We run hard. I still remember that great feeling as a kid of getting carried in from the car after an exhausting day. Closed out the night with a lovely interactive Nativity walkthrough of the Christmas story, and they dug it - our son observed that the spears didn't look very real, and our daughter noted that one of the guides sounded like "...that guy from Elf." Intended as a compliment. Very nice time with @meilanilong and @jonnylong15 - thank you for being such fabulous and fun people :) And nice job, Follow the Star people. ____ #longx4 #longholiday2014 #long2014 #selfportrait

A photo posted by Joseph Long (@josephivanlong) on Dec 12, 2014 at 11:38pm PST

Old-Fashioned Danger

I quickly passed the lady painting her toenails while driving - foot up on the dashboard, steering with knees and one hand - and was frightened for the future, but was quickly comforted by the reassuring sight of the man in front of her merely texting while driving. Aah, old- fashioned bad habits. Technically, I suppose he was the one breaking the law. 

Make them both drive tricycles to work for a year.

A Conversation: I Am Very Smart, and Will Not Be Fooled By Your FaultyLogic, Daughter

The following is from a conversation in our automobile which took place between me and Magdelana, our five-year old. Johannes (2) occasionally popped in with a response too.

I am certain about the accuracy of my position, though less so than before. 

****

Guess what? I was putting a suit on when I was little, but I was never actually little.

You were putting a suit on when you were little?

To make me look that way, then I put another suit on to make me look another way, like a little baby.

(laughs)

You're telling me that you were never actually a baby?

Yep.

I don't get it. You're telling me that you were never actually a baby, that you just put a suit on to make you look like a baby?

Yeah. 

Well then, where did you come from? 

I came from South America.

You came from South America? You don't even speak Portuguese!

That's because I came here. 

If you grew up in South America, then you would likely speak either Portuguese or Spanish. And you don't speak either one. So I don't understand -

(interrupts)

- but when I came here, then I just crawled into Mommy's tummy, and she didn't even know it. Because I was wearing a suit. I was wearing a newborn suit.

A newborn suit?

Yeah. A newborn baby suit.

Where did you get one of those? I didn't even know you could get those in South America. 

I got it at the Hawaii Store.

There's a Hawaii Store in South America, that sells newborn suits that make you look like you're a little baby?

(starts laughing hysterically)

I did!

Where did you even get the money to buy it?

I didn't buy it.

That's what I thought. So you really were a baby.

No I wasn't!

Well then how did you fake being a baby?

Why are we still talking about this?

Okay, let's just say that I'm correct.

No, you're not.

We'll just say that I'm correct.

No, you're not.

Okay, the de facto position is that you actually were born, and if you cannot refute that statement, that position, with a logical and defensible position, then you cannot change my mind about what I previously thought. Your argument has not been strong enough to convince me of the validity of your position.

We've been talking about this too much.

You're the one that brought it up. Let's just say that like usual, I am right. Would you say that I am correct, Johannes?

Johannes: No.

Yay! Good job, Johannes! I love you! Thank you! Johanni, am I correct? Was Sissy never a baby? Okay, Daddy, I bought him a suit, and right now he is dressed up like a baby.

So you're saying that he's an adult too?

Yes.

You're saying that your younger brother is an adult.

Yes. He is dressing up.

No, he is actually a two-year old.

You do not know. 

Yes, I do know! I have factual evidence that -

(interrupts)

- No! He put on different skin too. And he made himself shorter.

I do not understand how that is possible.

He is a hundred years old.

Actually, he is two years old.

Uhh! Daddy, you do not know!

Yes, I do know! I know when he was born! 

Daddy, you don't know. He is the same thing as me.

Well you never finished explaining yourself, so I don't believe you. I don't think you are correct.  If he's a hundred, then how old are you?

I am twenty-three.

Johannes: I'm five.

You're not five! You're two! 

****

And then I gave up, and Becca got in the automobile, and I breathed a sigh of relief, because I knew she would back me up.

And then she didn't.

*excerpted from November 26

Even More Block Rockin'

More good times making wood blocks. These were for one of Magdelana's friends, Taylor, who recently turned five. I'd love to hear if you have a favourite automobile below!








If you like these, here are some related posts!
Block Party 01.
More Block Rockin'.
We Hope You Enjoy Parenting. Don't Fail At It.

Automobile Soundtrack

We're heading in the city shortly. Do you want to listen to Tom Waits, or Cat Stevens, or someone else?

I say.

Maybe someone else, she ponders. How about Norah Jones?

It is enjoyable planning our score for the afternoon drive.

Rock Bottom

Riding along in the automobile a few days ago. Holding hands with Magdelana, in her carseat behind me. She starts rustling, tries lifting herself out.

Daddy, would you mind moving your hand please?

I move it.

I am trying to poop. But my bottom is having trouble.