Extinct: Destination Unknown
"Gabriel, you picked Sharkabet tonight."
"I know. I know."
Gabriel paused in mid-pace, one foot in the air: a good Karate Kid impression. He glanced over my shoulder.
"Why don't you help me find all the sharks marked "'Extinct'," I offered. Extinct sharks are stamped with an "Extinct" label throughout the alphabet. I figured an I Spy-like activity might keep his interest better.
"I see one!" He pointed.
"Good job." And we continued through the alphabet, identifying each shark with sequential letters, watching Daddy stumble through the pronounciation key for the extinct species.
"Daddy, what does "a-stinct..."
"Ex-tinct."
"Daddy, what does "a-stinct" mean?"
"Ex-tinct means they're all gone: like the dinosaurs."
"Oh," he paused. "Will they come back?"
"No, they're all dead. Some of them have been gone since the dinosaurs millions of years ago."
"Oh. Will the dinosaurs come back?"
"No, they're dead, too: a long time ago."
"Daddy?"
"Yes?"
"Where do you go when you die."
Oh... kitty-cat (Gabriel's and my agreed terminology for the more typically Oh C*#&).
"Well..." I noticed Gabriel's breathing had changed. He was nearly holding his breath. He had found a gateway, Sharkabet, to ask a question that had been bubbling up for awhile. "There are a lot of ideas about that, but no one really knows."
His eyes widened.
"Some believe, when you die, you go all the way around again and are born as a baby again."
"Really!" Gabriel giggled with relief. "A little baby?"
"And some believe, when you die, you go to a special place called Heaven where you can do whatever you want."
"Cool!"
I saw the tipping point coming. Gabriel was pretty enamoured with death destinations. I needed to get my perspective in, too.
"You know what I believe?"
"What?" he asked, still giggling with relief. This had been bugging him for some time. Knowing about death, but not knowing where it lead, had been conflicting with his age-appropriate need for order, rules, and finality.
"I think it's important to focus on living. Being alive is fun, and we can do so many things! I can't control death, but I can enjoy doing stuff, making the world a better place."
"So when N.'s Mommy died, she became a baby! I have to go tell Mom! She'll be so surprised!" Gabriel raced off into the family room to tell Mom and Hannah the great news.
I later re-emphasized the whole "living aspect" of our discussion, and it seemed to find some small measure of success. I am convinced, however, that Gabriel headed off to bed, smiling, still giggling occassionally, stuck in a reverential resurrection loop.
-- Dad
