Where the Wild Things Are book

Where the Wild Things Are (movie)

We missed the red carpet arrivals, but when we arrived it was all still lit up and the press was still there with their cameras. When we got into the theatre I was given a, ‘Guide for Educators and Parents,’ which was a booklet filled with outdoor activities that parents and teachers can engage their children in. The kids got a special program and we all got free drinks with our passes.

Before the screening of the film there were a few speakers. Jeremy Symons, who is the Sr. VP of Conservation and Education for the National Wildlife Federation. They are partnering with the movie’s producers to launch a program called ‘Be Out There,’ which is a campaign to get kids away from their video games and into the great outdoors. Congressman John Sarbanes of Maryland and Congressman Jared Polis of Colorado, both are sponsors of the No Child Left Indoors legislation. The issue is, “The American childhood has moved indoors.” They spoke about the fact that the average American child spends about 44 hours per week staring at a variety of electronic screens indoors. Kids spend less than half the time outdoors that kids did twenty years ago. (back in the day when I was a kid)

Finally, after all of the talking the movie began and it was delightful. Where the Wild Things Are was one of my favorite books when I was a child, and this movie interprets it for the big screen in a really fun way. I will say that my six-year-old girl enjoyed it, but found parts of it a bit scary and she had trouble sleeping last night. Here’s what the passes said about the rating: “The film is rated PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure and brief language.” But if you loved this book as a child as I did, you will enjoy this movie.

Despite the pouring rain and the chill I’m glad that we went to see the movie. It was fun getting a chance to see it a day before the rest of the world. They did a fabulous job with this beloved book.

A few months ago, I discovered a shortcut that shaves a good five minutes off of my drive to take Leila to school in the morning. If I cut through Fort DuPont Park, I can avoid the traffic of Minnesota Avenue and Benning Roads. An added bonus is that it’s a wooded park in the National Park system. (it would be a stat park, but alas, D.C. is not a state so. . .) It’s my beautiful oasis in the middle of the city. It’s hilly, winding path should force drivers to slow down to accommodate the 25mph speed limit, however, since it’s only really used as a shortcut, those laws are largely ignored and it’s become a bit of a raceway.

This morning as I was driving this road that I drive every weekday morning, it seemed as though everything had taken on a new glow. The grass, which had been dead and brown was now springing up a lush green. The buds on the trees are all on the verge of bursting forth with blossoms. Even the sun shining in my eyes as I crested the first hill seemed to shine a bit brighter.

“Does anybody have a pen and some paper?” I called to my girls in the back seat. “I feel a poem coming on.” Jordan said that I could use her notebook. Leila sighed and said, “Jeez, mommy! You’re so weird. You feel a poem coming on?” She shook her head in disbelief. My children just don’t understand that when inspiration hits you’ve got to capture it because it can disappear as quickly as it appeared if you don’t seize it in that moment.

After I dropped the girls off, I scribbled down a few words and then came home and wrote this poem. Happy Spring, ya’ll.

Spring: A Poem by Nobody in Particular

spring’s been here mere moments
cresting the hill at Ft. Dupont
I see the sun creeping up over the horizon
bringing spring

this magic occurs each year
but my wonder never grows old
what was brittle and dead days ago
now is verdant, lush and reaching towards heaven

its an ordinary morning
I am nobody in particular
but I have poetry inside of me
mere words
but bursting with hope and promise
not unlike this precious new season

standing in witness to this re-birthing
brings renewed hopes
this endless cycle of birth and death
will continue on
there will be good days
and dark nights
there will be trials
and rejoicing
while the dream continues
God is

but today I am simply glad
to greet this newborn season
I celebrate the joy of a new day
mindful of how fleeting the moment
the gift is cherished

Evelyn B. Bourne (c) 2009

His service was held in the sanctuary of the church that he loved and served for more than 50 years of his life through ten different pastors and many triumphs, trials and tribulations. As all of the beautiful words were spoken over his body, the feeling welled up within me that I had not known this man as they had, but I knew him in a special way that they knew not of–as my own grandpa. I remember the sparkling eyes, the crackling laughter that made hid belly shake and tears come to the corners of his eyes. The smell of tobacco mingled with old leather that emanated from him as he sat in his big chair and spoke with a pipe clenched between his teeth. I’d always get beard burn on my face when I kissed his stubbly cheek and got caught in one of his bear hugs.

Grandpa always seemed fascinated by how quickly were were growing up. On the door frame in the dining room he would keep track of our growth. When we visited, we would be required to stand against the wall and he would squint one eye and with a pen held to the top of our heads and a quick check to make sure that we weren’t on tippy toes, he would mark our new height on wall. He always seemed amazed at this evidence of time passing and it became a fun ritual.

My grandpa was a warm, smart, funny man who was a joy to be around. His tremendous faith was as a mantle about him and yet, he still had an infectious sense of humour and a very quick (and sometimes naughty) wit. At his homegoing service, my cousin Lois, who is of my dad’s generation, told of his love for offering very thorough, long-winded blessings over the food at family gatherings. Grandpa Joe could pray as if his prayers could bring Jesus back. at the time we would stand impatiently shifting our weight, hands growing a bit sweaty from holding your neighbors hands. You could sense the food getting cold and despite grandma’s not-too-subtle throat clearing, grandpa would pray on. Now when I look back on having had the honor of having been prayed over by such a man, I pray that the power of his prayers will yet linger in my life now that he is no longer with us. I pray that the blessing of having enjoyed so many years in his presence would serve as a healing and protective balm that will cover me and fortify me for what is to come in my life.

When we stood around his casket in that bright, cold morning sunshine at his burial at Mount Auburn Cemetery, I knew that he was not gone from us. He decided that it was time to lay his body down and to take his place in the arms of Jesus in heaven with the saints and all of those who have fallen asleep in Christ. I patted the shiny mahogany casket as we turned to leave so that they could tuck him into the ground for his body’s eternal rest. He loved good and well and was loved by many. What other accomplishment in life really matters?

And so I say, Godspeed, Grandpa Joe. You will always be in my heart as my beloved grandpa and a shining example of all that I ever hope to be.

We had Thanksgiving dinner with my mother’s family in West Medford, MA, which is the town I grew up in. It was a family reunion of my mother’s family, and it was held in the West Medford Community Center, which is across the street from a house that we lived in when I was small. They have completely rebuilt the community center and it is a beautiful facility now. When I was a child I attended girl scouts there and day camp in the summer. I took a walk down the street to the playground where we used to play when I was a child. The tennis courts are still there, but, of course the park has been completely renovated and has new equipment in it. But as I walked around I remembered where that tall slide used to be that would get sizzling hot in the summer sun. There was a merry-go-round that went so fast that when you got off you often felt like tossing your cookies. The swing set was still in the same location although it looked much smaller than I remember.

It was great to go back home and reminisce about my happy childhood days. Although I am over 40 now, that little girl is still alive in me. She remembers those summer days when my siblings and I would sit on the grass and watch my parents play tennis. When we were growing up they used to fight unmercifully with each other, but when they got on the tennis courts they played well together and made a formidable team. They laughed and played and enjoyed themselves, and other couples enjoyed taking them on. I remember wishing that they could bring some of that same feeling off of the courts and into our home. When they played tennis together its like they loved each other again, and it was magical to watch.

Anyway, we had a lovely visit and I will make sure that it’s not two years before wego back and visit. Next time I will bring another driver along to share the driving so that I do not have to arrive exhausted. Here is a picture that my cousin snapped of my two youngest girls on Thanksgiving using my cell phone:

My Girls and Me on Thanksgiving '08

I was shocked and amazed this morning when I stepped on the scale at the gym to face the reckoning of five days without exercise. Can you believe that I actually lost three pounds over Thanksgiving week? My modest goal was to just stick to my plan and not gain any weight. I did stick to my plan, but since we were constantly coming and going I never got a chance to exercise and I spent hours on end in the car going from place to place. I was both pleased and proud that I did not have to do any ‘damage control.’ It felt good to be in the gym again and back in my fitness routine. It feels even better to be that much closer rather than farther away from my goal.

I hope that everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday. I am looking forward now to getting ready for Christmas. I really love to enjoy Christmas through the eyes of my children. It’s such a fun time of the year, and I have taught them the value of giving and not expecting a huge pile of gifts, but that we should focus on and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas in our hearts always. But, when you’re a kid, none of that really means a lot until you’re older. It’s just fun to get cool stuff on Christmas, and it’s one of those memorable and enjoyable parts of childhood that I look back fondly on. I hope that my girls will too.