Possums and Princesses

Tonight I attempt my biggest organization tackle since the garage episode landed me on steroids and a heating pad. That bastion known as the Play Box. I went through the first pass, sorting out the four versions of Tickle Me Elmo (Chicken Dance Elmo, Hawaiian Elmo, BellyLaugh Elmo, and the all time favorite Baby Elmo). Baby Elmo made the cut, the other Elmos went in the Other Little Girl Box. The Other Little Girl Box is the result of Trixie being the end of the line of children in my family. She received all the "handy downs" from my nieces so when she outgrows her fabulous togs, I tell her it is time for them to go to another little girl. Thus, the OTLGB.

 Next came baby clothes (last baby will be 10 in April). Here, I really became ruthless. Rumba pants, crinoline(anyone who has ever worn one, knows the best thing you can do is give it away),monogrammed diaper covers, headbands with bows that were supposed to keep strangers from saying "what a pretty little boy", ruffle socks, slippers, I was on a roll. Screeching halt. Baby ballet shoes and first tap shoes. not ready for those to go. Back on track, the clothes that still have tags but are 3 sizes too small. Easy call as additions to the Other Little Girl Box.  The Italian leather Mary Janes. I took a moment, remembering how cute she looked in those on the one day they were ever worn. Off they go to the OLGB. Converse tennis shoes with flames on the sides, maybe I should bronze them. No, I get a grip, they need to go. You can only have so many bronze shoes. I mean the hard bronzed kind, not the supple leather perfections with 4 inch heels, those know no bounds. I digress.
Finally, we get to the dress up box. The fairy wings that have a hole in them where Trixie got stuck in the tree have served their purpose. Off they go.  I spy something that looks suspiciously like Snow White's dress. OMG It survived! I made it 15 years and 3 little girls ago. Next to it is the beautiful blue satin of the Cinderalla ball gown I made for Halloween 1995. That little girl is now 5'11, so this probably won't see action in this house again. So I think. On que,Tunisa shows up with her BFF Holly GoLightly. Holly is a sprite who covets Trixie's cool hat collection. After seeing the Snow White costume, she pleads the case that she can wear it for Halloween. Or just in general. Alas, Snow White and Cinderella are saved.  She nabs a pair of Hello Kitty pajamas, and off they go. I'm making progress. Then Trixie comes in.

"Ma'am! That is my favorite thing! How can we give that to the Other Little Girl? Here, give her your creepy baby doll instead.". Baby Girl is my doll that my father bought when I was born. She is the Picture of Dorian Grey. While I'm still looking good, Baby Girl is showing our age. And , for some, it is not pretty. First of all, she has an eye that used to close but now is stuck in mid-blink. She used to drink a bottle and then  wet her diaper just like a REAL baby. That is, until she peed on my brother and he put a BB in her mouth. Urinary issue solved. Her ears show where my grandmother pierced them with pearl earrings that were really sewing pins.  Baby Girl has some issues with her fingers where someone seemed to teethe on her. She is currently wearing a smocked Feltman Brothers dress that originally belonged to Tunisa. One sock is still on, the other long gone. She has travelled more than most people. My first international flight, I wore a yellow dress with a white double embroidered organdy pinafore and Baby Girl wore a batiste sleeping gown. We both got Pan Am wings from the stewardess.  ( The yellow dress and pinafore are in the closet that stores evening clothes and Tom Berenger's tuxedo).  Trixie turns the poor BabyGirl's  head around so it faces the wall and continues on her rescue mission of her favorite things. Beanie babies are the first to go. Next, Webkins that Trixie tells me are "so 15 minutes ago" . (Where does this child get this). Her collection of baby dolls,  Old School. They quickly go in the big box.

Then she spies it. The red velvet emperor robe. I LOVE THIS!  The crown that went with it was eaten by the dog but the pointed princess hat of the Rapunzil dress is still with us, so it substitutes for imperial garb. She stuff tiny panties into the pointy hat so it stands up straight. In her regal robe and pantyfilled princess hat , she heads downstairs to show Da (aka TomB). She settles in with him to watch a National Geographic special, looking like the Imperial Wizard. I come down just in time to see Tom B outside with some creature who is trying to get away. Trixie, in Wizard outfit, has my phone and is squeeling as she videos her Da and the fattest possum I have ever seen. Tom B is bouncing the critter by its tail, making sure the needle teeth of this mad marsupial don't chomp into him.  Trixie is steadily videoing, giving commentary that rivals when TV reporters talk with the folks who have just lost the trailer to the tornado. "This is awesome, people". The girl knows the importance of seizing the moment and rousing the excitement of her potential audience. The child sounds like the excited radio reporter with the Hindenburg. I'm watching the whole thing, trying to decide which is funnier. Tom B and his possum or his cinematographer dressed like a Klansman.

"Can we keep him, Ma'am"? "This is the best". "Da is the MAN". Clearly he is her hero. Or is it the possum? When she opens the door and gets ready to run  out to pet the possum, this memorable moment comes to a screeching halt. I hear my mother's voice saying "don't you touch that thing! It has rabies. It will bite you and you will start foaming at the mouth and then what am I going to do". Wait. Tiny Mama isn't here. I must be channeling her!

 I'm having an out of body experience as I watch this mini-me vibrate with joy and excitement.  For a moment, I am that little girl so fired up , knowing I am the luckiest girl in the world.   Anybody can be a princess, but a possum owner is as close to heaven as one could ever hope for. "Come scrub your hands with soap! Possums carry leprosy! The Home Owner's Association will not allow possums!". Tiny Mama's voice is back. Trixie is me. I am Mama.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall.
I am my mother, after all.

I remain,
The Fabulous Ma'am