Joke Day April 1
Gabriel, my five-year-old son, was surprised to hear about April 1st.
“Mommy! Daddy said tomorrow is Joke Day! Isn’t that funny?” For some reason, maybe the constant kidding & teasing, he sometimes needs to verify information gleaned from Daddy with Mommy. Stern-Voice-Daddy: no questions. Smiling Daddy: might be kidding. The Calvin and Hobbes comic comes to mind. Calvin’s Dad often spun outrageous stories: kind of an imagination boost for Calvin. A service, as I see it.While Gabriel confirmed my story and spread the good news that Tomorrow Was Jokes’ Day, Hannah, my three-year-old daughter, sat with me on the floor, leaning back into my chest. Hannah is working on speaking, but her body language said: Isn’t that funny, Gabriel. Yes, go see Mommy. I’ve got Daddy. Daddy is MINE. Sing to me, Daddy? Sing. SING!
Hannah leans back over my leg, smiling up at me. She brings her hands together in a closed-hand clap, signing for more. Her hand briefly passed over her forearm – her shorthand acquiescence to our push to standardize her signs. And I obey.
“Baa-baa black sheep....”
Switching my voice from tenor to Muppet growl prompts giggles. Hannah is wearing her Passy Muir valve over her trach, so I can hear her raspy voice: soundtrack to her broad, adoring smile. More, she signs. MORE!As I begin my next song, Gabriel wanders back, my story confirmed. “Joke Day – that’s funny!” He paces off to contemplate Joke Day; Hannah and I continue to sing.
-- Dad
