Stories and Impressions

I read Sebby some books and he fell asleep on my lap for the second night in a row. Cherity is trying to put Owen out with the same technique but it's taking longer with him this evening. I think he might be close to asleep now though. The books without pictures are more effective for putting Owen to sleep. I read Sebby the books: "Drat That Fat Cat", some Scholastic book of 4 stories called "I Love You", a folk tale called "The Quiltmaker's Gift", and we never got to another folktale I was going to read called "How Turtle's Back was Cracked" because Seb fell asleep before I got a chance (I've read it before. It's a good read).

I especially like the folktales. I love the fantasy world they portray and the allegory/parable or story within the story that's hidden underneath. I could read them by myself for hours. I remember when I was a kid I used to go to the library looking for these old classic folktales and finding some of them in the adult fiction. I think that was the same time I was reading the Chronicles of Narnia. I was looking for something in the same genre. (The movie doesn't compare, but when do they ever?)I've told Cherity multiple times that I'm looking forward to reading the chronicles to Owen when he gets old enough. I've read pages from "The Hobbit" to Owen a few times already and it puts him to sleep pretty quickly. He has my same demeanor and enjoyment for a well told story, I think, and listens for as long as he can until he falls asleep. A lot of it is over his head now but I do it as much for myself as I do for him. I've found that's the best way to spend time with my boys anyway. Do something together that we BOTH enjoy, that way I'm not looking at the clock waiting for bedtime. Fishing works for the the boys and I in those regards. I have to admit they don't do as much fishing as they do water slapping with sticks, wading in the water, feeding the caught fish our worms, throwing debris in the water, peeing in the bushes, yelling at the dog, trying to net minnows, soaking their clothers, filling their rubber boots with sand, and whatever else boys love to do.

One thing I'm thankful for in regards to the whole Hospital visit was that I was able to talk about some of our previous expeditions with Sebastian when he was in a lot of pain. I was able to say "remember when we went fishing at...." and things like that. He listened and I felt like I was doing something. Both boys love hearing stories I tell them of when I was a boy too. I'll lay down with one of them so they'll fall asleep and just tell them any sort of story that pops in to my head. I'm amazed at what will keep their attention. I've told Owen about disecting a pig in college; going down to Mitchell Hollow and catching crayfish and tadpoles in 6th grade with Mike; the big garden that my parents used to have in their backyard; living with a bunch of guys in a big house in college; ... you name it. A lot of these stories I've told Owen and when I go upstairs with him to go to bed he'll ask me to tell a story. I'll cycle my mind through my past to see what I can remember and I'll tell him about whatever pops up in the attic. I think it's what you remember that's so fascinating too. My younger brothers will say something like "Do you remember when you did that one thing to me?", or whatever, and I'll have totally forgotten what they're talking about and sometimes won't remember even after they bring it up. I guess the impressions you make on people are way more than you realize, be it good or bad.