Brave New World: Chapter Two

The (long awaited) Dark
There are fears most common to all humans. Stories have passed from generation to generation and the knowledge still does not seem to lessen the fear. Spiders and snakes, heights and death, talking to girls (c'mon, you know its true) to name a few. But one of the scariest things we face every day is going into dark, unknown places. What kid (and more adults than we'll mention here) hasn't sped up the basement stairs all the while telling themselves that they just wanted to see how fast they could get to the top? Is there one among us who hasn't looked over our shoulder while walking down a dark deserted street? I think not.

Well, there is one. At least there's talk of one.

There's a little girl I've heard of who has to brave the monsters of the dark garage every morning on her trek to school. She's always the first one in and the last one out and she doesn't ever leave anyone behind. You see, while she's taking the first tentative steps into the darkened garage, her daddy is dealing with a vicious, snarling guard dog who is always trying to get out (or maybe he's just trying to get a piece of the little girl...you'll have to decide). All the while, the little girl (we'll call her Maddy) is looking out for the monsters.

As she moves her small and seemingly fragile foot from the threshold to cold, hard garage floor, she turns to her daddy and says "where monters?" Now ladies and gentlemen, having asked that question several times in the last year myself, I know that anytime those words have passed my lips I have uttered them with a slight tremor, a chill running down my back. I don't know if she's challenging those monsters or just calling out to those she considers equals, but when you hear it come from that little mouth, its as if a tangible specter of fear leaves the room quietly knowing that it will have no victims today. The sweetness, untouched by the steel of many a dark monster campaign, almost warming those around her...no fear, just conviction.

As much as her daddy tries to explain that there aren't any monsters in that dark garage, she knows the truth. She knows that if her daddy would actually clear away some of the clutter and mishmash of semi-used and just plain unused articles, he would be able to see the teeth and claws and the red, beady eyes. But, she doesn't let it phase her. She just continues on into the void knowing that she is the vanguard for the much weaker force that comes behind her. Even when they are most vulnerable...those moments between the time daddy closes the door to the kitchen so the vicious attack beast doesn't wreak havoc during the day and when he opens the big garage door...she is ever vigilant. Listening to the silence while her eyes adjust to the near black; her catlike reflexes ready to pounce on would be attackers and predators.

An interesting side note here. Her attacks are so advanced and well honed, a normal observer would almost view them as the learning stumbles of a two year old child. We know better.

While most of this talent can be attributed to natural instincts, our Warrior of the Dark has enhanced her skills with other less known techniques. Some of these techniques are known by a few masters worldwide while others can only be found in the East (that would be EST...like Atlanta). For instance, the ability of her senses to pierce the darkness is a talent born from years (almost two) of harsh discipline. Her sleeping chamber or "bedroom" is adorned with only ONE night light. This allows her eyes to naturally adjust quickly to low light conditions much like the oft overlooked but never underestimated lemur. Additionally, her monster knowledge comes from an ancient and little known source called "DVDs." While Barney and Dorothy were good starting points, Maddy quickly tired of Barney (I hope) and simply dances around with Dorothy (it seems almost like a cat playing with a mouse). Only one DVD has been able to get Maddy where she is today. It is known as Monsters Inc. (see link for some horrifying images and facts) and it is essential for any up and coming monster eliminator out there. And, while good enough for any mediocre apprentice, the aforementioned training doesn't even take into account the legendary contact Maddy has had not only with the brutal guard beast who advances on her with rough tongue and whip like tail lashing, but also the hordes of other acclaimed and persistent talent she must challenge daily at the Shining Star Academy (her guild hall).

Needless to say, this dedication to her duty and constant vigilance saves lives every day and hopefully adds just a little bravery to our hearts the next time we turn out the light that seems just a little too far from the bottom of the basement stairs.

Brave New World: The Slide and The Dark

There are things Maddy does that amaze me every day. She is always learning new words and is constantly taking on new challenges. Along those lines, I'd like to share a couple stories of bravery and fortitude that my daughter would probably think are unnecessary and overdone for the media. She would say "I'm not a hero. I was just doing my job." Well, here are a couple of stories of Maddy just doing her job.

Chapter One: The Slide
There is a park I take Maddy and The Blitz to a lot. It has a huge field and a walking path that goes around the field and even some wild and unexplored jungles (OK...some GA woods in the middle of Acworth, but...). There is also a rather large jungle gym (or whatever they call them now...Activity Unit for the Age Challenged?) that has two slides. In order to get to the slides, one has to walk up some stairs, climb through a tube, and make a decision as to which slide to go on...a crossroad, if you will. Depending on your point of view, each slide has its challenges (I know, the picture does it no justice but the adrenaline has no choice but to flow).

The first slide (right) has a small twist in it that slows the "slider" slightly before the second steep descent is taken. While it doesn't happen often, there are legends of two, three, and even a couple four year olds that try to take the curve too fast and end up with a wicked case of static cling that can take an excruciating 15 minutes to clear up. The second slide (left) is the real killer. It's a straight shot for 10, maybe even 15 feet shooting sliders down the slippery slope at a heart stopping one mile an hour. I've heard that one daredevil greased his pants and had the Acworth police clock him at 2.2 mph, but as of this report, the rumors are unsubstantiated.

So, what does this have to do with Maddy, you might ask? Well, with Daddy's help, Maddy has been down both of these treacherous slopes, but she hasn't really had the opportunity to face the challenge alone. Recently, all three of us were at the park and Daddy had to make sure Blitz didn't eat any other small children or their parents, so Maddy had the run of the Jungle Gym. As she mounted the stairs for the first time, a chill ran down my spine. She didn't have a helmet or any of the padding one would normally expect with this kind of stunt, so I was understandably nervous. As she crawled through the tube (with a "Hi Daddy" at the end), the smallest bit of selfishness entered my brain. "Don't let her go to the slow slide," I thought, "She's fearless. She can take the speed." Well, as my beautiful baby turned to her left...to the slower, but yet still dangerous, bendy slide...I thought "Its OK. I love her unconditionally. She's just not ready for it yet."

And then...

Two steps toward the bendy slide, a turn of her head, a shift of her weight. Her head turned toward me as if to say "I can DO it Daddy." It could have been a trick of the light or just a Daddy's faint hopes, but the sudden look of determination in her eyes almost scared me. Her radiant blue eyes took on a steely glint as she turned and looked to the challenge of the straight speedy slide. And then, with a determined gait, she took one, then another step toward her goal. The ultimate toddler challenge. As if time had sped up and forced her to accept her fate, she was suddenly at the precipice. "Don't look down," I thought, "You can make it if you...just...don't...look...down!"

Her mount wasn't graceful...it was utilitarian...just what she needed to get her there, but not loose and floppy enough to get a deduction from the judges. Her little legs hung over the edge and her eyes said a soft goodbye to me before the focus returned.

And then she was gone...

I couldn't tell if it was two seconds or three seconds...an eternity, I know. The world just seemed to stop. And then with a laugh and a jump, her hair sticking up all the way, she was back. She had made it. No death and destruction. No mangled limbs. Just my little girl again in all her dirty, smiley, blue eyed cuteness. My little heroine.

Stay tuned for chapter two: The Dark. Coming soon!

For Bonnie...

Bonnie requested some special pictures of the Maddy. Lucky for me, I had taken just what she wanted last night. There are also a few new bathtime videos with a surprise for Daddy in one of them.

Enjoy the cuteness...

Rebel...Suffer...Rebuild...Accept

So, my daughter was being bad last night.

We had subs for dinner and my beautiful little angel of a daughter was apparently not too hungry. So instead of saying "father, i do not feel like the submarine sandwich that you have provided me," she proceeded to spit out what she had in her mouth and throw the rest of her sandwich on the floor.

So I tried an experiment. Now, it is rare that I will even look cross eyed at the beauty that is my daughter, but this time, I was a little miffed. So, I gently took her little hand in mine and... At this point, I am searching for a word. Slap? No...not even nearly. Smack? Not even close. How about we go with "tap." So, I gently took her little hand in mine and gave it one tiny tap. Not even enough to make a noise...just enough for her to even feel the touch of my hand on hers.

Well, you would think the world had caved in, the sun had imploded, and hell had expelled the demons and let them lose upon the earth. OK...so maybe not THAT dramatic, but you can see where I'm going here. Her face crinkled and her eyes squoze shut and her little hands and arms came up in little balls of pure and unabashed sorrow and hurt. Tears came rolling down her little cheeks as her mouth twisted into a miniature mask of pain. The cries, a gutteral wail of emotion and longing for the days when everything was just so simple...so without the sorrow of the cold Winter longing for the Spring. I can go on and on (and apparently I do).

Now usually, if I do a little slap of the hand, this same thing happens and I break down and go to my child. I hold her close, tell her that daddy loves her and then we go on...even though the the behavior (thrown food, a beaten Blitz, a broken...thing, etc.) has just been essentially rewarded instead of punished. Well, this time, I just let it go...a little test to see what would happen next.

And here's where I lose you. Because all the mothers and fathers and anyone who has had to take care of a child in the long-term knows that the crying...the punishment crying, not the "my arm has fallen off and it stings a little" crying...will usually stop once they don't get the attention they are craving (but don't know they're craving). As happened with the love of my life that is Madelyn. As much as it killed me not to go to her and hold her tight, the crying stopped, and she ate some more of her dinner.

When we were done and starting to clean up, I asked her for a hug. And she came to me and gripped me tight like she now understood that tighter is better and that it feels really good to hug and be hugged.

Kansas - Land of Ice and Snow

Let's just say it was an adventure...

Everything started out fine. We had stickers on the airplane and Maddy soon fell asleep. As we were landing, people started mentioning how good she was during the flight. That is the moment she decided to wake up and start crying (I really couldn't have asked for anything more). My mother and Joe decided that it might be good to stay in a hotel the night before since it was supposed to start with the snow and sleet the day we were coming in. Overall the trip back wasn't too bad, but my mother and I got stuck in the back seat with her. I know my mother was dreading every moment with the granddaughter she hadn't seen in almost a year (kidding...she loved every moment).

After getting mom's house, we had to get Maddy out into the snow, so I bundled her up in everything she had (pretty much) and we went out looking for Zeus (the big St. Bernard, etc., etc. mix of a dog that Maddy fell in love with). I know Maddy was cold, but I don't think she understood at this point how to relay that to me.

Daddy: "Maddy, are you cold?"
Maddy: "No. Where's Zeus?"

We finally spotted the white and brown pelt of the elusive dog and I was able to get her back in the house.

The next day is when it started. Instinctively and in a foreshadowing moment that only appears in the greatest of mystery and adventure novels, my mother mentioned that the power had "only ever gone out for about three hours before." Needless to say, I believe it was about two weeks before my mother got power back. You see, she lives about an hour NW of Topeka, so when the ice storm hit, her house wasn't the highest on the list. Relocating to my grandmother's was like driving through a war zone. Power poles were ripped to shreds and power lines were drooping over the road...sometimes lines were ripped apart on the edge. We were lucky enough to have somewhere to relocate to. I can't imagine what some people had to do to stay warm. I don't think it was a matter of eating the weak and the young (pardon the image), Maddy was but it did get mighty cold. seemingly oblivious in her big pink coat, hat, and mittens. It was almost like the little kid on A Christmas Story...her arms were always a little further out at her sides and she couldn't see very well around the fur of her hood.

She took the time to get to know her cousins a little better, play with the cars that daddy got her (she likes cars) and jump on the air mattress. We ended up at the mall a couple times as well where they have a kid's playland. She had fun getting chased by daddy and her cousins and playing on the slide and the slightly soft animals and cars and rocket ship.

The highlight of the trip came when Maddy got to visit...Chucky Cheese. Although she didn't seem too interested in the games or rides, she did enjoy Skee Ball (although she couldn't get the ball up the ramp more than a couple feet) and she ate about four pieces of pizza (literally).

Overall, the ice storm brought us all closer together (we'll just say it was our choice) and Maddy got to know her cousins (two legged and four legged) and aunt (the Anti-Megan) and her grandparents. Her daddy had a great time with her and she was so good while she was there (although I feel really blessed with how good she is on a day to day basis anyway).

Maybe next time we can all meet in...Mexico? Texas? Anywhere warmer?

Next up...Christmas.

Maddy's Videos

I just wanted to let everyone know that instead of posting individual videos to the blog, I have posted a link to the right. I figure since I upload everything to YouTube anyway, you will be able to access all of them at once or individually if you prefer.

There are a couple of new ones over there for those of you who would like to view the cuteness.

Sorry for those missing Maddy

Sorry for the long delay in getting more Maddy posts out there. I could say it was the Holidays. I could say it was the remnants of the fire and getting that cleared up. I could even say it was my boss (see image) and working 80 hours a week, but it just wouldn't be true. I just took a break.

I forget that I get to see her and watch her grow more than anyone else out there with the exception of her mother. So I apologize for my selfishness in not sharing my growing daughter with you all. It would be different if I didn't want to, but all of you have been so gracious and responsive with your love for Maddy that its my proud duty to show her off. We'll see how she feels about it in about five or six years...I have no doubts that she will have an opinion.

So, without further ado, here's the new start to Maddy's Blog for 2008.