Swing high, batta batta

There’s just no accounting for the difference in taste, is there? I thought I’d leave yesterday’s post simmering for a couple days so you could savor the flavor in leisure; maybe even pop in every couple hours to reread it, and I was positive that I’d be fielding comments on it far into the night. I thought I might even end up with 163+ comments like Brando did the other day. I thought it was just that good.

Shyeah, right. If it hadn’t been for Jenn, I’d have been talking to myself all day. I’m not blaming YOU; I’m just saying. I’d been influenced by the voice Kaye Gibbons had used in her book Ellen Foster, and it was one of those posts that made me sit back and shake my head in satisfaction and amazement that I’d been the one to write it. It’s a good thing I’ve got a little of my humor back. A good thing.

So, today I’m going to do what I do best, and what will hopefully help me retain my popularity. It took me a long time to attract the five of you, and I don’t want to lose you. Thus, I shall proceed with random thoughtage:

@ We went to Hanes Mall in Winston yesterday. Torie turned 15 last Monday - she had birthday money - and she was itching to head for Hot Topic. The first thing you notice about the place is that it’s dark, like a cave. It takes awhile for your eyes to adjust, so for the first few seconds you pretty much bounce off things like a bat. You don’t feel bad about this, though, because everyone else in there had to do it, too, when they walked in. Currently, the store is emphasizing Alle Thinges Gothic, although this time last year I saw a whole lotta Hello Kitty (whatever’s the hot topic. get it? you’re so smart!). When we stumbled in yesterday, there were skulls everywhere and black t-shirts snarling the names of rock bands. Headbands, lapel pins, stickers, Harry Potter falderal, nipple rings, toe rings, belly button rings, studded belts - these are a few of their favorite things. And I’m here to tell you: I love hanging out in there. Not because I wear any of those items (as far as you know), but because every single person - from clerk to customer - who sets foot in that store is a card-carrying member of the friendliest 2% of the population of the world. Who wouldn’t gravitate towards the smiling kid with a safety pin stuck through his nostril instead of the snooty ponytailed young thing behind the counter at Belk’s? Okay, maybe lots of people, but how sad.

Besides the extreme pleasure we feel watching our son jump around onstage doing his thing at the Zombie Gutz shows, we enjoy meeting his friendly, caring, accessible young fans. Kids who don’t care if they’re cool. Kids who couldn’t be cool if they tried. Kids I used to be terrified of because I used to be a rather prissy ponytailed young thing. At Van’s shows, Scott and I stand out, but the thing is - the kids really like us, and it’s no wonder. How many adults care to enter their world? They bubble over with excitement when they talk to us; some of them bare their souls with incredible ease. It’s astounding. I really love them.

@ Not surprisingly, Jesse wants a tattoo for Christmas.

@ Rather surprisingly, even tiny little good tattoos start around $100.

@ Even more surprisingly, and completely off-subject, my kids don’t want to order cable again. We’ve been without for awhile now, which in our town means getting no reception whatsoever. We have no idea what’s going on with the castaways in Lost, or even how our favorite Bluth family is getting along. There’ll be no frantic voting for American Idol contestants this year. We’re current-media-telecast deprived and we don’t care. Together, we decided we’d rather spend money on movies and television series on dvd, sans commercials. Another strike for independence from tyranny for the Lowe family! Huzzah! Now who’s gonna rip me from this damn computer?

@ I feel on top of life today. I hope you do, too, chickies. Love to you all. xo