Endless Patience, Endless Questions
Hello, all my Stuffie friends and relations. It’s Jicama here with my young and charming Fajita. I try to take them outside to learn about the world around them. Sometimes we have different ideas about what our time will look like. The best way to help you understand our journeys is for us to co-narrate our time on Orcas Island.
Me: “Look at all the amazing things in this tidepool, Fajita! Isn’t it incredible how many friends can share such a small space! What are you noticing?”
Fajita: “What’s all that green stuff, Mama? Why does it smell like fish? Are there any fish in there? Do you think I can catch them? Is it warm enough for me to go swimming? Can I go swimming? Will the crabs get my toes? Why are they called crabs, anyway? Do they feel grumpy a lot of the time or did grumpy people get named after them?…..”
Me: “Isn’t it fascinating how little it takes for plants to take root on a rock? How are these little flowers hanging on in such a windy and salty place on this tiny little ledge?”
Fajita: “Can I climb the rocks, Mama? Do you see how high I can go? Did you notice all these white spiky shells? Do they hurt your toes as much as mine? Am I hurting them by stepping on them? Do you think they notice?”
Me: “Look at this gorgeous view from this beautiful Madrone tree! How far can you see out? Do you spot any whales or otters swimming by in the Salish Sea?
Fajita: “Can I jump down now? Pretty please can I have a tree-jumping contest? Do you think I’ll land harder from this tree we’re in now or from that shore pine below?”
Fajita: “Did you see how far down I jumped, Mama? Are you proud of me for being so brave?”
Me: “Of course, dear. You impress me every day with your daring. I wish you’d be a little more careful sometimes. Maybe it’s time to take a little indoor break.”
Me: “What did you think of the museum, Fajita? Did you learn anything interesting?”
Fajita: “Did you notice all the flowers outside? Could you smell them? Can we buy anything in the gift shop? Is it time for lunch yet?”
Me: “We can go outside and smell some flowers. And it will be time for lunch soon, but not yet.”
Fajita: “Did you think that rose smelled good, Mama? Did you know that a rose by other names would still smell sweet? What name do you think a rose would rather be called? Why did you pick my name? Would I be as sweet if I was called Cantaloupe?”
Me: “Yes, dear. You would be sweet no matter your name. Speaking of that, look at these charming peonies…”
Fajita: “Is it ‘soon’ yet? Can we eat lunch now?”
Me: “Let’s look at the new shoots on the pine tree over here.”
Fajita: “What are those spiky things? Will they hurt if I poke them?… Why did they do that to me? Do they not liked to be touched? Do you think these will be any softer?”
Fajita: “Mama, did you feel how soft that plant is? Do you think we could get one for our house so I could use it as a bed? Why don’t we sleep in trees, anyway? Do you think we could put a tree in the house and then build a treehouse and then I could stay there with my friends Taco and Zeborah and Little Guys 1 & 2?”
Me: “I don’t think trees would like living indoors much. We can certainly spend more time in trees outside, though. Remind me when we get home and I’ll see what I can do.”
Fajita: “How did these get named ‘poppies’, Mama? Do they like high-energy music with catchy lyrics? Do they play baseball? Oh, wait, do they taste like pop? Do these golden orange ones taste like orange pop?”
Me: “I’d really rather you didn’t find out, sweetie. Fajita…”
Fajita: “Mama, why do they taste so bad? Why do they promise something something so delicious and then taste so bitter?”
Me: “Do you want to go find some lunch, honey?”
Fajita: “Can we, Mama? Can we just eat ice cream and cookies and cake and candy and popsicles for lunch?”
Me: “That wouldn’t be very good for your tummy.”
Fajita: “Why not? Could we have pizza and tacos and chips and pretzels and popcorn instead?”
Me: “No. Let’s go get a sandwich and some fruit.”
Fajita: “Do we have to? If I eat all my good lunch, can we get some dessert?”
Me: “We’ll see.”
You see how it is. Maybe some of you have been on adventures like this before? It’s never boring, that’s for sure. Hope you make lots of discoveries this summer!
-Jicama and Fajita