Shoot 'Em Real Hard, Okay Papa?

I'm a grandmother, like it or not. I love the kids, really I do, it's just the being called grandma part that is hard to swallow. However, I find it much more appealing than the locally accepted alternative form, Nanna, as the name carries heavy connotations if you're from Iceland. Granted, I am not sure of the pronunciation, but Nana is the name of the Armenian pre-Christian Mother goddess, and being blessed with the title of that omniscient one is an honor. However, the latter spelling, Nanna, can refer to the Mesopotamian moon god or the Nordic vegetation goddess. According to some legends the goddess of green died of a broken heart after her consort, Balder, was slain. A real downer of a story.

Since my companion is bald, and maybe even bald-er than most, I make the connection on a conscious level and fear carrying the title since it could mean his demise and a messy end for myself. So it's no wonder he doesn't mind being called papa. It has no weighty karmas attached to it that I know of, unless of course, if you consider the Spanish word for french fry (papa) might land you in some hot oil. Grandkids are great. My favorite thing about them has to be the things they say. My grandson, Haven, spent the better part of a week with us recently and the buz word this go 'round was fight.

You wanna play fight?

Let's fight!

I fight bad guys like Spiderman only I got no web...see. He said this as he flicked his wrist back in the classic Spidy manner.

I had to ask him why he was exploring this particular word so thoroughly. Only I worded it in 4 year old hip-hop slang, Why you be trippin' on fight homy?

Somebody got's ta git mean peoples...I'll do it...like this! He did his little Jackie Chan dance of death, complete with sound effects.

Child, there's other ways to deal with problem people you know.

Like shoots 'em? Pappa you got guns?

Yep ( A man of few words).

Then you can shoots 'em okay papa? An' I'll do this, as he chopped the air and kicked an invisible foe in the knee caps.

Grandpa grumbled, not knowing what to say and trying to stymie a laugh.

You shoot 'em real hard okay Papa?...an' grandma can git me some web shooter an' I'll tie 'em up all sticky.

So, if a 3 foot tall spider-chan-man hauls off and clobbers you in the lower extremities out of nowhere, you best reflect on what you were doing. It could be My Hero to the rescue!
8/10/2005 11:26 PM
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