Thursday, June 23, 2011

We Have A Winner!


This is Haley, the dog. In Maria's arms.

We were in Pasadena to celebrate Julie's birthday, to visit family, to relax in the beautiful garden. It was such a classic, lovely Pasadena kind of day. A bit misty in the morning, but by afternoon we were strolling under a blue sky. In the company of cousins, my aunt and uncle, my grandmother, with my husband and children... we could have been anywhere, but I have a sentimental place in my heart for Los Angeles, for the old neighborhoods where wisteria and grapevines hold the earth, and scent the air, where trees shade streets and frame the San Gabriel Mountains.

For me there is something quintessentially* Summer about Whittier, Alhambra, Pasadena, Olvera Street, Union Station... the heat, the hope of swimming, the laughter of cousins, the long days, and cooler nights. Los Angeles is big, and sprawling, loud and overwhelming, but if you can pull over into a neighborhood, focus on a street, a house, a museum, a fragrance... it becomes intimate, sincere, even endearing. At least, that's how it is for me.

Oh. Where was I?
Sentimental journey.


So. Haley. She's a character. Apparently she will chew anything to death. Anything. We were warned to guard our crayons, shoes, glasses, food... anything! Depending on who you ask, she is either a good dog, or a pest. At least while we were there, she was a good dog.

William played with Haley, holding her favorite toy in the air. She loves to growl at it, and tug it, and William learned that she jumps for it. He got her to jump really high too... until he wanted me to see. Just as I clicked my camera on, and prepared to witness Haley's trick, she walked away. Game over.


Maria decided she could reenact the game, for William's sake, for the sake of getting a picture of what it looked like when Haley jumped in the air for the squeaky toy! And maybe she should be training for the Olympics, or volleyball, and we certainly have considered entering her as a super-speedy mini-bot. But she is being Haley-the-dog's stand in. A good one too.

We loved reading your comments, the fun ideas you suggested. There was one that was particularly appealing, because recently we enjoyed reading about a photographer in Japan who is specializing in levitation! Without thinking about it, I managed to capture a bit of that floating effect that Natsumi Hayashi captures with her camera. Please do take a look at her fun and imaginative images.

Nikkipolani, you are our winner! William does have an interest in magic and illusion, and he has just the skills and influence it takes to make his sister levitate! A Barnes and Noble gift certificate is on its way to your home.

**WOW: word of the week**
Quintessential: the most typical example, the essence of a thing. I love this word.

3 comments:

Cheyenne -Millie said...

Congratulations to Nikkipolani!

nikkipolani said...

Cool! Thanks! I didn't know there was a prize :-) If anyone's going to invent a levitation machine, it'd be one of your ingenious kids.

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Oh yes. Prizes! Congratulations, and thank you for the confidence and high esteem you have for my children... makes me smile and feel good.