two for

February 20, 2015

Today in the car, my son said, I will not die. Seemingly out of nowhere. I will not die. 

Everyone dies. I said.

No, not me. 

It’s a part of life. Everything dies. When people get very old they die. 

Only plants die. Kids do not die. Only parents and dogs. And cats die. 

Well, this isn’t something you need to worry about right now.

I do not want to die. kids don’t die.

You have a long long time before you need to worry about that. Let’s talk about this another time when you’re older.

Yeah.

Then he went back to singing along to What’s This? from The Nightmare Before Christmas. 

February 26, 2015

In his pajamas he sits at the table. Laptop in front of him. Watching people open toys and stockings and eggs and backpacks while he eats Honey Nut Cheerios and vanilla yogurt. Legs folded underneath. Eyes intent. Diffuse light through thing curtains of dining room. I prepare to shovel snow.