For my son

It's my 9 year anniversary on Tumblr 🥳

...kind of

M - 9-year-old...sort of Me - his mom

[in a crowded subway car]

M: How old I will be in 2300? (too much math) Me: You'll be dead. M: I'll be dead? [scrolling frantically through the iPhone calendar] how old I will be in 3000? Me: still dead. Actually everyone we know will be dead. M: both of us will be dead? (proud mommy moment: "we mention only important ones to us") Me: Yes. (mommy-gene kicks in)...unless you become a scientist and invent some drug or vitamin which makes people to live much much longer. (mommy- gene kicks in double-strength ) but to become a scientist you need to study a lot. you need to read every day, write every day. M: I study at school. Me: You need to study at home too. M: After I finish school, I become a scientist? Me: You need to study at school. Then you need to study at college. Then you need to study in university. Then you need to study on your own. Then you maybe become a scientist. M: Will you be dead in 2300? Me: Yes unless you become a scientist" (loop through above 3-4 times)

["musical break" for getting off the train at 36-St in Brooklyn; walking next to Greenwood cemetery]

M: I don’t want to be in the ground. Me: No, love. (hopefully reassuring) You are alive. You don’t get into the ground unless you are dead. M: If I’m dead, I’m in the coffin. Me: Yes. Usually people get buried in the coffin. M: Will I get up from a coffin? Me: No, you won't ... (a "zombie apocalypse" clause in Amazon's agreement crossing my mind as in "this $hit can be real")... unless you are a zombie or (too many movies about monsters as of late) a vampire. M: Is babulya a zombie? (for non-family: babulya=my grandmother who passed away in December. ) Me: no (my eyes are turning the size of dinner plates; luckily it’s too dark for him to notice) M: Is babulya a vampire? (facepalm #parentingExplanationFail ) Me: god, no M: Will I be a zombie? (I gave up = sharp conversation switch) Me: everyone, (to our imaginary class that was visiting the city today) please follow M, the line leader.