I've always loved street theatre. As a child, I was always the girl jumping from her seat, arm ramrod straight to the sky the second the v-word was mentioned. I don't remember being chosen very often - but that's probably more a sign of how much I wanted to participate than any statistically proven unfairness.It's one of the bonding ties between me and William; as a family we naturally divide the other way (Mike/William and me/Chris), but on this point the tables are turned. Chris hides in his father's trousers as the volunteers are rounded up - William sits bolt upright and his attention never wavers. I want him to be picked almost as much as he does. And, actually, he often is, to our mutual delight.
Somewhere along the line I learned that it was cool not to want it so much - that putting oneself forward made one the butt of jokes and potential mockery. I stood back, biting my lip, sitting on my hand.
Maybe that time will come for William, too. Or maybe he'll remember how his Dad did press-ups in public and held Giles the Jester aloft, and maybe he'll learn to toss machetes on a tight-rope to put himself through college. I'd like that.
Today’s statistics:
- Whales seen: 5
- Munchkins bought: 50 (this is not a Wizard of Oz reference)
- Percentage of family taking part in juggling display: 50%
- Oldest house seen: 330 years old
- Percentage of Freedom Trail walked: 10% at the most
- Number of times lied about nationality: 0
- Breakfast: Dunkin' Donuts, Boston
- Lunch: Quincy Market, Boston
- Dinner: Ned Devine Irish Pub, Boston
- William and I can be uncharacteristically awed and thrilled by nature. Chris not so much.
- The boys haven't inherited my tendency to motion sickness.
- Chris has a Canning's luck at cards.
- Some Bostonions should learn about Calcutta if they want to know about a British "massacre". I'm rather sanguine about our colonial history here, just because we were so much worse elsewhere.
- I am an Aunt! Congratulations Tom and Crystal.
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