Yes, Marigold, today is BBS

I have already been up for several hours, even though it is Monday, because today is the beginning of VBS, or rather, as it is known in our house, BBS and sometimes PBS. Do not trouble yourselves, I am not over at church toiling away in a helping spirit. I haven’t, tragically, done anything at all to help. Every now and then I wander over to church and stand there, watching other people work, and sometimes distracting them. I’m surprised there are not angry shouts of alarm whenever I appear. Go away, it might be said, you’re Not Helping.

No, I’ve been awake for several hours because one little person, Marigold, has internalized and understood, in a most profound way, that BBS is finally here…well, almost here, soon, just a few more hours, like 8 more hours, although at six am, we were looking at 12. Did I do that math right? “Which minute is BBS?” she asks, and I’m not exaggerating here, every few minutes.

When she first began asking, at 6am, I thought perhaps it wasn’t going to be as long a day as it already is, but then she reappeared, four minutes later, wearing a purple velvet dress and a straw hat. It’s going to be that kind of day.

Also, it seems, which comes as a surprise to all of us, that she remembers a very detailed account of last year’s BBS. She has described the flag, all the crafts, all the food, and some of the stories. This is most interesting because I don’t think she could really talk last year, and some of us have wondered so much about what is going on in her mind. I mean, we know there’s lots going on, but no one has been able to discover it. Suddenly, there it all is. The past, the present, the future, all gathered up into some extraordinary and unusual language.

She’s going to be the breaker of my heart in the matter of learning and doing anything in a timely way. When the world says ‘It’s Time to Read’, she says, ‘which minute are we gonna be in that world?’ Then you are left to ask ‘which world’ and ‘of what, for heaven’s sake, are you speaking’?

Anyway, it’s going to be Epic. VBS that is, and if you’re anywhere near Binghamton you should come. I’ll be standing around, ready to distract.

(Marigold and I discussing the forthcoming delight of BBS.)