Drama Queen

I don't know where my kids get their dramatic nature!

This is definitely funnier in person, but I hope you'll find some humor in this. Sophie used to have the most delightful Teddy Bear that her Aunt Christina gifted her. It was tie-dyed pink, purple, and white, and his name was Dumbledore. In his left palm you could press a button, and he'd sing Brahms' lullaby to you (well, he'd play the tune). Unfortunately the most horrible thing happened last spring at a community event called the Teddy Bear picnic. You guessed it - she lost him. We searched for months, contacted the lost and found at the library (where the picnic was), and we finally gave up the fight. Yes, even in Utah things will be stolen. I can't really believe a parent would allow their child to go home with someone else's Teddy Bear, but that's what appears to have happened.

Well, we went to the Build-A-Bear workshop and got a new bear that she also named Dumbledore. He's a beautiful bear, though I confess that the old Dumbledore was cooler, especially since "he" (the original) was designed to be a "she." Still, Sophie has been pleased with Dumbledore II.

Now, I have the most delightful digital piano with many tunes programmed into it, including Brahms' lullaby. Sophie loves to play the various tunes. So, the other day, a new acting exercise started. (I'm trying to be sensitive to tender feelings, but I'm an actress, and I know an acting exercise when I see one). Sophie is at the piano while I'm at the computer, and she plays the Brahms lullaby and points out to me that it's the tune the old Dumbledore used to play (forget the fact that the new Dumbledore and Aidan's stuffed monkey, George, also play the tune). Suddenly I hear the unmistakable sound of keening. She begins with a low moan and the sound crescendos into this passionate weep. I reach out to her, and she lets me hold her for a few minutes. Then she returns to the piano, catharsis complete.

Today, I'm sitting at the computer setting up this blog when I hear Brahms' lullaby followed by the same sound. Yes, keening. If you don't know what it is, you should look it up. It's something the Irish do when they're mourning. I only wish you could see the tears budding in the corners of her squinting eyes as she does this.

Really, I think I'm a decent actress. But, she's good.