Where the Wild Things Aren't

On Wednesdays when I babysit I usually suggest story time to the kids. Our personal favourites include The Hound From The Pound, Meecat Mail and Curious George in the Big City. Recently, I beg them to let me read Where The Wild Things Are. The words are so simple, and the text is short and direct but somehow the words play to your heart. "Please don't go, we'll eat you up, we love you so." This was my favourite part growing up. I always giggled, thinking how silly they were to want to eat up that which you love the best. Now I know it's love so fast and deep that it can be violent and careless.

I bought the wild thing soundtrack for the upcoming movie. It features one of my very favourite female musicians, Karen O. The choir of children that accompany her create the essence of childhood built upon the bones of play and laughter. Wednesday night I was driving home from Harrow back to my Windsor home. I was listening to the cd and thinking about my day and wild things and very suddenly I started to laugh. I couldn't help but realize how much my day had paralleled the book. Earlier I told a friend that I would love to sail away on an imaginary island and dance and play all the time to which they answered, "You have, you do." It's true, I had spent the day with my own little monsters who were wild to say the least. I have the baby induced neck scratches to prove it. Even in Windsor home I have the freedom of a wild thing, to do and go as I please.

What was even funnier to me was how I spent the evening. At the end of the book Max smells good things to eat and sails away home where someone loves him best and his dinner is waiting, still hot. After I babysat I decided to go home. Even though I'm 22 years old dinner was waiting. What I love best about the book is the simple act of dinner waiting, "still hot." It's so subtle. Max isn't met by dramatics and tears and hugs to make us all feel that our own home life in inadequate. It's so much like my house too! It's not one of those homes that overwhelms you with spoiling hugs and kisses. You are responsible for you and we tend to have the occasional healthy disagreement. It's lucky just to have a place to go to so easily. I know it's rare and after being away the last few weeks I appreciate the subtlety. I love having two homes. One I can escape to in the city where I'm free to run wild and small town Harrow home where life is surely less than wild. It's sleepy and reminds me of sweaters and orange leaves. This weekend we're going on our traditional last fall walk and pumpkin shopping spree. ;)

For Halloween I want a Max wolf suit to wear. If I could find one, I promise you I would wear it rather than the skanky tights and corset.

I love the fall.