This is a continuation of yesterday's post about life's reality intruding upon your fantasies... I wish I could change the title but it's forever preserved in all of the readers out there... I guess if you didn't know where I was coming from this all might sound a bit, er, off!
Yesterday I left off in the National Gallery of Art... We were doing the museum equivalent of the walk of shame through the gallery after laughing like drunken hyenas at a bunch of naked babies. I really wanted to see the Rodin sculptures so we were making a beeline to that corner of the gallery.
When we finally found Rodin everyone was still a little silly, but reasonably under control. Fortunately, most everyone in this area, including the artwork, had their clothes on. We finally got to "The Thinker" and we paused to admire the work. "The Thinker" was naked but had the decency to keep his pickle hidden from view. I explained to the kids that "The Thinker" is an icon that represents intellect and philosophy, and that Rodin had sculpted him nude because he wanted to represent the poetry of the human form as well as intellect. I kept beating the point about the poetry of the human form hoping that maybe someday it would emerge from their subconscious.
The kids had settled down enough to accept my explanation, but the minute we were through I began herding them toward the museum exit. I wasn't taking any more chances. We were just leaving the building when Hannah looked at me very seriously and said, "Hey Mom? If being naked is so great and is supposed to make The Thinker so intellectual and poetic then why didn't they make Lincoln naked in his big monument? That's kind of like a sculpture, right?"
I had nothing for her.
42 comments:
He was the tallest president and probably had really large hands and feet.....
Hmmm...
Feels kinda like thinking about my uncle nekkid. Bleh.
Have you seen pictures of Mary Todd? No matter what the size of it was, I don't think it was used often.
Wow, your kids ask some pretty well thought out questions.
Never in a million years would I have thought of that.
And what about the Statue of Liberty?
And perhaps we should see just how "big" Big Ben REALLY is!
... clock? What do you mean "clock"?
Kathy, I can't thank you enough. Seriously.
I was sitting here in a serious funk. The weather is gloomy and cold for the third day in a row, therefore I am gloomy and cold for the third day in a row. I'm grumpy and introspective and not liking what I see. It's all very deep.
Then along comes Kathy B,. and suddenly my deep and distressing contemplations turn to thoughts of a long dead presidents dangle. I laughed out loud for possibly the first time in three days.
And then for some reason, probably completely unrelated, I thought about the Washington Monument.
Thank you!
You make such a cute thinker! And I agree with Scoman. Your kids do ask smart questions. If only we had answers...
Hannah 1, Mom 0
(virtual high five for Hannah)
Haha! Thanks for the scarring image of a giant Abe penis!
Hopefully Lincoln would still have his stovetop pipe hat handy should he feel the need to cover up!
Hannah, you are my kind of kid. Challenge the masses!
Hugs and Mocha,
Stesha
Hannah is a great question-asker. That is so logical and smart. And what a cute pic of you all!
I can't believe you posted this now because of course I'm teaching a play in which Abe Lincoln is a prominent figure and well, I'm going to have a hard time not saying "pickle" in discussion. Fingers crossed.
I love the look on the face of one of the twins, not sure which one she is, but her face is like, oh Moooommmm! Either that or her sister has something really interesting in her ear. So cute, it is a great pic!
I will probably never look at that Abe statue the same again. I love it!
i mean, really, i think i would rather have the pickle memory than uber well behaved children... think of the jokes you can tell at their weddings...
I have nothing to say. Words are failing me, as I can't get a picture of Abe's "in between" out of my head. Agh! That girl is seriously funny.
Smart little girl you have there, KathyB! Sounds like your girls can spice up a dry day at the museum. :-)
Love the way you use the term "pickle"!! I'm so immature...I actually giggled when I read that.
My first thought about Lincoln was how tall he was...and I'll bet he had big hands and big feet so....hmmmmm? Although that could just be a myth...
I love that you're exposing your kids to art!!! I hope my kids will be interested and that perceptive when they're the age your girls are.
I had never thought of Abe this way. Hmmmm.
What a cute photo of you guys and what a great experience. I am sure they learned some useful facts (besides what male parts look like)on this trip. :0)
A rotting cucumber?
So funny to hear the rest of the story! I have 3 boys, so most every subject eventually comes around to penises, balls, burps, or farts, so I have no advice!!!
I would have been laughing right with you :)
..Uh..yes....I'm here to rub butts..
that is something to think about. what would one compare it too?
Every time I see the Lincoln memorial I'm now going to be thinking about Abe naked.
At least it's entertaining, if a little wrong.
It sounds like you guys had fun!
LOL! That's the best after-field trip question I've ever heard.
well here it is HUMP day and now after reading your blog Im only going to be thinking about well you know!!!!! hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
LOL! I love it!
"Yes, dear girl, he should be naked...but..."
Good question! And I love how Hannah thinks don't you?
Love your Thinker face! You're a natural.
Oh, you mean you haven't thought about your past Presidents' naked forms before? Here in Canada, we do that all the time. I mean, with our Prime Ministers. We're far more liberal up here, right? Yeah, I guess Canadians are a strange bunch after all.
Time to walk away from an awkward comment...
;)
You have opened up a big thought! Or maybe little! Great pic!
Sometimes, kids are too smart. It'll be a long time before I think of Honest Abe decently again. Thanks.
My heavens... you must go to Michel's blog it is too funny.
http://factsoptional.blogspot.com/
Oh boy, sound like you are all getting a real education!!!!
My kids would have done exactly the same thing, who am I kidding, I would have done exactly the same thing.
Gotta love that kid and her questions. What a great photo of the family. Trying not to picture that Abe thing.
I love it! Thanks for sharing.....
Who needs intellectualism when you can be a realist? You don't want to be an intellectual whore...or as my friends prefer to call me intellectual mistress of the night. ;)
So what exactly WERE you "thinking" about in that photo?
What a question...I too am left speechless
She is one smart cookie! I LOVE that picture!!
I just found your blog off the Mom Blog Network -- too funny! I haven't tried to take my boys to a museum yet -- now, that would be an adventure!!
Maybe his pickle was made out of wood, like his teeth!
: )
That's a wonderful museum
Nothing like kids to bring reality crashing down around your...um, feet! It's great that you took them. You may not see results immediately, but lather, rinse, and repeat.
I absolutely love the way kids minds work...never a dull moment! ;) And that picture is priceless! :)
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