Friday, August 08, 2008

Loss and Life in Books and Beyond

This day has come around again. Thanks to Elaine Magliaro for introducing me to Sherman Alexie's Grief Calls Us to the Things Of This World, for that is the poem that comes to mind today on this breezy sunny day in Seattle.

For the past three days, I have been reading aloud E. B. White's Charlotte's Web to Lucia. Thanks to both my husband and Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast for alerting me to this NPR piece about the book. I thought of E. B. White having to do seventeen takes when reading the sad parts for the audio recording after Lucia said, "Stop talking in that funny voice!" as I cried during the key moments. The final paragraphs are what always get me: the paen to friendship and good writing is as fine an epitaph as any I've ever read.

Finally, I remember when Lucia's first tooth came in. Now, that tooth has popped out, and Lucia is a big girl now, just like Peter Sis' Madlenka. "How wise I am!" Lucia exclaimed yesterday. Here she is, displaying her sagacity:


Not too long ago, Yorkshire Pudding introduced me to Miranda the Fairy, who used to leave his children little notes. Miranda the Fairy has a new job in the dental department of fairyland She left Lucia a little note with two books by Elsa Beskow in minature: Pelle's New Suit and Peter in Blueberry Land. I suspect that future tooth presents will be more modest.

8 comments:

Lone Star Ma said...

I am so sorry for the loss of your brother. I am glad you have a beautiful, growing girl in your life.

Suzanne said...

Your daughter is lovely - we too love Elsa Beskow.

Anamaria (bookstogether) said...

Thank you for the poem. It's good to remember sometimes; better than ever forgetting. I'm so sorry that you lost your brother so young.

And...congratulations to wise Lucia! I thought the same thing when Leo lost his first tooth, remembering its sharp edge.

Saints and Spinners said...

Thank you, my friends. We ended up having a lovely evening at the concert of Eric Herman and then dinner afterward. We're hoping to meet up with Eric's family to Seattle in the next couple of weeks. Yay for blog-friends!

Andromeda Jazmon said...

I am sorry for the loss of your brother. So glad you have family close around you on this day.

Yay for Lucia and the tooth fairy with books!

Vivian Mahoney said...

Thanks for Sherman Alexie's poem. It's perfect. We've been dealing with the same thing, thinking about my nephew, and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. You'd think time would make it easier to accept a loved one is gone, but sometimes, having that flash of being is more comforting to think about.

Lucia is beautiful.

Hugs.

tanita✿davis said...

Was out this weekend, and am just now reading blogs -- wanted to say that I am thinking of you. xo

Jules at 7-Imp said...

I'm slow in getting caught up on blog-reading, and I missed this. Big hugs to you from me, too. I have not seen that poem before, but I'm about to go read.

I have no doubt that Lucia is terrifically wise.