Music Transitions

Today I am removing the song "I Get Weak" by Belinda Carlisle from my iPod.

I don't need any songs reinforcing my tendency to lose myself, to diminsh, when I am in a romantic relationship.

I don't want my daughter hearing lyrics that connect love with becoming weak, in losing her strength in the face of romantic/sexual attraction to a male.

Swooning is a lovely feeling. I hope I feel it again. I hope my daughter experiences it some day.

But these lyrics romanticize something I don't find romantic anymore.

Arrr! Kids!

On Saturday I play hostess to seven or eight fourth graders for my daughter's (early) tenth birthday. She has chosen a pirate theme -- but I feel like I'm about to walk the plank.

I am so awkward around young kids it is not even funny. (Or maybe it is.)

My friend from work who was going to help me has bronchitis, so I'm going it alone.

It will probably be okay, but I'll be glad when it's over.

Meantime, we've been housecleaning, shopping for party supplies, and baking a cake. I have lots of little pirate figures to stick on the cake, and a pirate vest for each child. We'll play "stick the patch on the pirate's eye" and the kids' version of "Worst Case Scenario." I'll load them up with cake and ice cream, and if they start to get bored we'll stick Muppet Treasure Island on -- because Tim Curry is one of the great movie pirates -- and we'll all sing a chorus of "When You're a Professional Pirate" together.