Shakespeare on love

Everyone who loves The Word and how it breathes life to life will like the film Anonymous. The cast includes mother and daughter Vanessa Redgrave and Joely Richardson as the old and young Elizabeth I. How's this for spoilers? What if the Queen and the Bard had once been lovers?

My small tribute to Shakespeare, whose 450th birthday was observed worldwide yesterday, is tied up with the big love I feel for the wee one Kai who grows bigger and fiercer every day as she explores the world.

Armed with her imagination away she rides! Photo by her Booboo

Shakespeare quotes from the World Wide Web

Conquest of the rope bridge

"We live in a world of disappointment. You begin with high hopes and the beautiful innocence of childhood but you discover that the world isn't good enough, nor are our lives and nor are we. But there are moments in life when we can have an experience of transcendence, feel part of something larger, or simply our hearts burst inside." – Salman Rushdie

Kai crossing the rope bridge in the playground by herself Photo by her Booboo

Small and mighty

"Remember the weak, you who are strong, you whose home lies beyond the region of thunder, in a land that is always peaceful, always serene and bright with the resplendent glory of God." - excerpt from a prayer composed by Flannery O'Connor to the angel Raphael

We can't and always be there 24-7 for those who need our presence in their lives. Or do my shadow and I delude ourselves into thinking we are needed by anyone for that matter? Meanwhile, we stay connected to the near, to the far through this small but mighty thing called faith.

The Button about to raise her arms like angel wings as she studies her shadow one morning. Photo by her Booboo

The owl and the booboo went to sea

"Never close your lips to those whom you have opened your heart." - Charles Dickens

What is Charles the Dickens doing in this space when his Christmas Carol now belongs to Christmas just past? Ralph Fiennes plays Dickens in the film The Invisible Woman that tells about his affair with Claire Tomalin, the woman referred to in the title. I'm not gonna get that movie past me even if it doesn't reach local screens. Thank you, Torrentz, and thank you, Kimi, for knowing at one point when a new flick is "downloadable." Hurray for Net-savvy kids!

What the Dickens is the opening quote for? It's for the lil person who's not so little in her sage pronouncements and who I allowed into my heart when the announcement of her coming was made. What has happened since is I can't close my lips anymore -- I'm singing to her, scolding her, feeding her, sitting her on the toilet with instructions to "Hold Booboo!" or listening to her when I'm rendered speechless.

Here's to you, little owl!

The Butones wearing her owl cap one morning Photo by her Booboo