Year 2: Week 1

Dear Zayde,


This week I learned about candles. Some candles, like the ones on birthday cakes, are meant to be extinguished by forceful blowing. Other candles, like the ones in a menorah, are meant to burn all the way down until they are puddles of wax that Mommy has to scrape off the counter. All candles are mesmerizing, and none of them "are for touching." I think that covers everything I know about candles.

This week I learned about Thanksgiving. Last year, I wasn't around for this annual feast, but this year I was happy to partake in the tradition of stuffing myself with turkey. I also got to try the green beans, carrots, parsnip, and brussels sprouts, all of which were roasted to perfection. Cranberry sauce is a new favorite of mine; who knew something could be so sweet and so tart at the same time? I learned that Thanksgiving is a time for lots of my relatives to come to our house, where they talk loudly and pile food on their plates and eat heartily until they "can't eat another bite," at which time dessert is served, and everyone has at least one slice of pie. All this has something to do with Indians, but I haven't yet connected the dots, so I will ask Mommy's friend Kanchan when I see her this week. Her family is from India, so I'm sure she will know why we celebrate Thanksgiving.

As a corollary to Thanksgiving, I learned that I can eat turkey at least twice a day for an entire week, and despite what my parents were hoping, it doesn't make me sleepy at all. Speaking of not being sleepy, I have learned recently that I can survive on just one nap a day. I'm sure Mommy is thrilled to be able to play with me a few extra hours each day. I can see the excitement in her glassy eyes.

This week I learned that chairs and pianos come in Zelda-sized options. For my birthday, my parents presented me with a soft armchair. I know it's just for me because it has my name on it. I also know that it's just for me because Daddy tried to sit in it, but he didn't quite fit. The piano doesn't have as many keys as Mommy's piano, but it has my name on it, too, and I can sit or stand to play it anytime I want. I'm working on a sonata right now. It has a lot of minor chords.

This week has been full of family and food, just the way I like it. I think I'd like to have two holidays and a birthday party every week.


Celebrating,
Zelda