Hazards of Anthropomorphism

[dr_pretentious]

In children's picture books, the Moon says good night to friendly duck families, allows polite human daddies to bring it down to play with gregarious little girls, and accompanies adventurous boys on evening walks. To Gareth, the Moon is a person because his books have told him so.

Tonight, as we drove home from the big charity bike ride (Dan pedaled for 80 miles today, with some pretty serious hills), Gareth leaned around in his carseat to look through the windshield, and declared, "I want to meet the Moon!" (He pronounces it sort of like mune or perhaps myoon.) We thought this was just one of his curious moments, but it turned out to be a heartfelt desire, one that he was very upset to be denied. Just making a formal introduction verbally didn't do the trick. Pointing out that the Moon lives very far away was no help at all. The only way we could get him to fall asleep was to assure him that a few astronauts have gone to meet the Moon in person, though they had to wait until they were grown-ups to do it.

Comments

[vgnwtch.livejournal.com]

First off: YAAAY DAN!!

Second: If Gareth is anything like I was, this sort of thing will become a regular feature. My mum had to explain to her weeping eldest child that only a wardrobe made from a tree from Narnia could get me there; and later, that I couldn't get to Fundindelve, even though I was at the right spot on Alderley Edge, because I didn't have Susan's weirdstone bracelet. Good old Mum - always having to disabuse me of mythology-based illusions. Speaking of Alan Garner's The Weirdstone of Brisingamen (Fundindelve, Alderley Edge and all that), did I leave Garner's Thursbitch with you? I've always wondered where it went.

[dr-pretentious.livejournal.com]

Most of the really weird things I believed when I was a kid were things I apparently made up. I believed in a supernatural being called the Snack Parrot, who flew behind our car on road trips and could be called upon to bring us road food. I'm told I asked my mother to go find the crank for winding the sun back up into the sky, when I didn't want to go to bed.

Yes, I do still have Thursbitch. It's on my shelf of borrowed books. I could ship it, if you're missing it, or next time we're on the same side of the pond, I can put it in your hand. The Weirdstone sounds really delicious.

And YAY DAN!

[vgnwtch.livejournal.com]

I had my own language, and I don't know if I ever told you about the uncanny situation when my parents recognised something I'd talked about A LOT as a pre-schooler while they were on holiday in Egypt in the 90s.

I can pick up a copy of Thursbitch anywhere in town - we loves our local literary hero :) So keep the book, but definitely check out this article about the writing of it, and if the dialect in Thursbitch is weird to you, think of Gawain & The Green Knight - Garner discovered that his father could understand all but a handful of words in the poem because the poet was from somewhere hereabouts and they were still in use round here until about 50-odd years ago.

Get hold of 'The Weirdstone of Brisigamen' and the follow-up, 'The Moon of Gomrath'. All of his work is astonishingly great, but 'Elidor' and 'Red Shift' are my two other favourites;'The Owl Service' is based on the Blodeuwedd mythology, and it's outstanding, but because it's set in Wales and not his home turf, it doesn't have the same... numinous quality to it, the same flow. Oh, and 'The Stone Book' series is amazing, based on his family's history as stone masons in these hills.

[siriciryon.livejournal.com]

*nod* I've struggled with Gareth's basic problem most of my life.
I'm not sure how R is doing with it...

[laradionne.livejournal.com]

Perhaps you could take him to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum to see the Moon Rock.

[dr-pretentious.livejournal.com]

I love the Moon Rock! One of the many times my family went to Air and Space when I was a kid, we saw a woman in a sari stand quietly in line for her turn to touch the rock. When her turn came, she burst into song and dance.

[vgnwtch.livejournal.com]

That's fantastic!

[leapfaith.livejournal.com]

Wow. I am impressed. He wants to meet the moon... Your son is so cool!

[dr-pretentious.livejournal.com]

He's pretty awesome. He wants to go to Mars, too.

[red-haired-girl.livejournal.com]

http://www.imthemoon.tv/

[dr-pretentious.livejournal.com]

Odd and charming! Thank you.

[vgnwtch.livejournal.com]

Odd was the first word that sprang to my mind..!

[violet-moon25.livejournal.com]

I did have a children's book about a princess who wanted someone to get her the moon and after various adventures the jester finally asked her to describe the moon ("as big as my thumbnail and silver")and was able to get her what she wanted. I have no idea the title or author though.

As for imagination, you might as well encourage him and enjoy it. Since he's your son stamping it out would probably be impossible as well and counterproductive.

BTW, my mother says when I was 3 I had an imaginary friend who lived in the walls and drove a paper car. I used to talk to him using an inside out band aid as a speaker.

[dr-pretentious.livejournal.com]

BTW, my mother says when I was 3 I had an imaginary friend who lived in the walls and drove a paper car. I used to talk to him using an inside out band aid as a speaker.

That has a very Gaimanesque feel. But then, Gaiman gets childhood well enough that I've noticed everybody's childhood memories make me think of Neil Gaiman.

[violet-moon25.livejournal.com]

I never knew who Neil Gaiman was until I was an adult. But I do like his work now.