A 'Possum Tale

Last week Dad and I sent Madeline a Mike Kenny photo from the front page of the Sentinel. The small opposum reminded us of "Skeezicks" of long ago with its tiny beady black eyes, small round ears, long slender nose, and naked pink tail. It was cute in its own prehistoric sort of way! We had no idea whether Madeline would enjoy the picture or not, but we sent it anyway with a note mentioning Skeezicks.

This morning when I answered the ringing phone, a small voice said, "I'm going to name the 'potamus Ruby." I immediately recognized Madeline's matter-of-fact tone, but didn't understand what she was trying to tell me. When I asked her to repeat her opening sentence (and after her mother helped her with the correct "p" word), she stated, "I'm going to name the 'possum Ruby." She had received the picture of the opposum and, on her own, had decided, not only to name it, but to bestow upon it the name of a beautiful gem...Ruby!

"Why Ruby?" I asked.

"Because I like 'Ruby' and I'm going to name the 'possum Ruby," came the answer with more matter-of-factness.

"Maybe Mommy wants to talk to you now." She no longer says, "Grandma, I don't want to talk to you anymore." She learned that lesson very well and rather quickly! Mommy made sure of that and I received a lovely "I'm Sorry!" card to prove it!

Aren't kids great! They certainly can brighten a dull day! Thanks, Madeline! Keep the phone calls coming! And enjoy Ruby.

With love,
Grandma "Chocolate"
(Madeline has such a nice way with names. "Chocolate" sounds so much more fun than "Gottschalk", don't you think? And "Ruby" for an opposum? She sees things differently than I with my adult view! I love it!)