Ah, To Be Young and Costumed

There are many things that I don't miss about being a child: the lack of self determination, the teasing, the peer pressure, the "fitting in," the feathered hair. But there is one thing that I miss a quite a bit: being able to wear whatever you want, whenever you want.

Perhaps it is a longing for simpler days when the imagination was allowed to roam free. When I could pretend to be a dinosaur or a Transformer or Luke Skywalker with impunity. Or maybe it's just because I like to wear weird clothes. Whatever it is, I miss being able to, quite out of the blue, put on a piece of a costume at random and go about my business as usual.

That's what Gabe did this morning. He had us put on his fireman hat from his Halloween costume. And, as he sat in the living room, watching his new favorite show ("Dino Dan," which is pretty terrible--it is the story of a kid, maybe seven years old, who is an utter social retard. He is completely obsessed with dinosaurs. EVERYTHING relates back to dinosaurs to his way of thinking. And, somehow, he is surrounded with friends who don't mock his every word. Also, he sees these dinosaurs roaming around the real world and interacts with them. This is the most confusing--and for me irritating--part, as other animals--like their family dog--react to the dinosaurs, but nobody but Dan ever sees them. Thus, either he lives in a world where computer animated dinosaurs rampage unknown to all humans or Dan is crazy and, somehow, that craziness spreads to nearby animals and other non-sentient beings who couldn't "back his story up." Either way, it's also a terrible show and the kid who plays Dan is awful.).

What was I talking about? Oh, right, costuming. Here's a picture of Gabe with his PJs and hat on as he eats animal crackers for breakfast and watches his show.