Today I have for you a disturbing edition of Conversations with Lucy (TM). While we were eating dinner, we had this conversation, which came out of a pretty ordinary and normal dinner-time conversation.
Lucy: Mom, you have lines on your face.
Me: Where?
Lucy: Above your eyes. When you go like that.
Me: You mean like this [making an angry face where there are deep furrows between my eyes]?
Lucy: Yes, but there are lines there. Why are there lines?
Me: Because I'm getting old.
Lucy: Are you going to die?
Me: [turning pale, fumbling] No! I mean, not for a long long time. That's not something you need to worry about.
Lucy: But if you die, we'll have to get a new Mommy.
Me: Oh, but Lucy, I'm not going to die until I'm much, much older, and when you're much, much older -- like when you're a mom of your own kids, or even a grandma. So you don't need to worry about it.
Lucy: But Mom, can we just have this conversation?
Me: [Stunned silence, in complete and utter shock that she has made this suggestion/demand.]
Lucy: If you die, we'll have to get a new Mommy.
Me: OK, but I don't think that's something you need to worry about.
From there, the conversation returned to normalcy, including discussion of what she dreamed about during nap time, whether Grandma likes mice, and whether or not her cousins like chocolate. I'm still recovering. And wondering when I can use the "can we just have this conversation?" ploy on her.
In other news, today was my last day of classes for the semester (hooray!). It was also my first day in my brand new office. Yes, the timing makes me laugh, too, since now that I don't have to meet with students for three months, I finally have a space where I can meet with students. Of course, after two entire semesters without an office, surely I have learned to live without such a luxury, and so have proven such things unnecessary. Well, maybe. But I'm happy to have a space to call my own. Now I just have to unpack all those boxes....once the bookshelves arrive.
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Can we just have this conversation? Wow! A smart one, for sure.
ReplyDeleteI stumbled upon this blog quite by accident. I was googling Jake to find a current email address. Suddenly I was reminded of your first date, or rather Jake's anticipation of your first date - he came back from campus and had a big goofy grin on his face that hasn't left - but may have grown bigger and goofier with Lucy's arrival.
ReplyDeleteThough my world view has become more cynical over the years by way of war, ethnic strife, politics and cable sales - this blog has brought a smile to me. Tell himself to email me? Btw, that day, in describing you, he said, "She's really cool and smart and clever - you'll like her." He was right on all counts.