You're me, and more.

Dear Violet,

As I write this, you're laying in your crib (mostly) asleep. You've had a nasty cough the last couple of days, but trust me, it hasn't slowed you down. While there's a large part of me that hopes you never read this blog (Dad tends to say not-so-nice words at times), if and when you do, I hope you're feeling better.

I also hope by the time you read this, you've told me about your first day at high school. Or about the first time you drove a car by yourself (assuming they still let people drive), your first day at work, or the first person you kissed. Wait. Tell that last one to Mom. But, really Vi, I've got something to tell you. Let me tell you about...

...the first time you went to the movies. 

You really loved The Good Dinosaur. It's pretty safe to say that you loved it more than the rest of us combined. While Dad and Mom found it kind of simple and maybe even just a tick boring, you loved every minute of it. Though that might have been the popcorn talking, as you didn't stop eating it. 

The Good Dinosaur was clearly aimed at kids your age back then (though at 2 and a third, you might've been a little young), so the somewhat negative reaction from adults was to be expected. Watching an orphaned cave-boy named Spot and a constantly worried Apatosaurus avoid endless peril for 90 minutes may not sound like fun (in fact, it doesn't), those shapes and sounds thrilled you. So much so, you won't hear me complaining.

If you've grown up into one of those kids and never watched it again, let me fill you in. And apologize for failing you. Anyway, Arlo, our titular dinosaur, is the runt of the litter who always has to prove himself. But after screwing up task after task, his incredibly patient father finally gives him a job that he can complete: protect the food. Along comes Spot, eating ear after ear of corn, until Arlo chases him away.

During this chase, things go full-Disney, and let's just say, it doesn't end well. I hope you didn't understand what happened, but your brother sure did. And I think it bummed him out.

A lot.


From there, the movie was all about Arlo and Spot, despite initially hating one another, learning that deep down those feelings weren't true. In fact, despite their differences, they really grew to rely on one another and ended up making a great team. And in that regard, it's a really sweet story. Kind of reminds me of these two little kids I once knew, actually.

Speaking of tiny, simple creatures, let me go ahead and introduce you to the Yays and Boos. They're who Dad hangs out with at night, once all you dependents guys are finally asleep. They're weird and kind of useless, so...yeah. They're pretty much your uncles, too.

Yaaaaaay!

• Your Dad has had a thing for animated water for years, but here, it extends to to all-things natural. The scenery is AMAZING!
• Baby dinosaurs. Even cuter than that little baby raptor in Jurassic Park. Okay, fine, way cuter. Those baby raptors terrified me.
• Cloud sharks. I know, right? So cool,
• Even though it was really heart-breaking, that scene where Arlo and Spot tell each other about their families was one of the best things Pixar has ever done. Wow.
• Like your Dad during the NHL playoffs, that guy had a pretty epic beard. Lucky him, he doesn't even have to shave his. (Or cry while he's doing it)
• And finally, though I'm sure it's a Boo for every single person in that packed auditorium, girl, you were so engaged in this one. You would not stop talking. Like, ever. I especially loved when you shouted REINDEER! when the buffalo showed up, or when you said, Hey! Spot's family! when the other humans finally made an appearance. Even though I was sweating (honestly, you were the loudest person in the room), I was also beaming, too.

Boooooo!

• I already said it, but yes, this one got a little slow at times. And by a little, I mean a lot. Like, a lot a lot.
• Buck is a nasty older brother. That kid was born a jerk.
• A Bug's Death. Man, Spot just ripped that thing's head right off, didn't he?
• What was with those hillbilly flying dinosaurs? A little too creepy for the wee ones, perhaps?
• Even though he guessed Spot's name was Violet (true story), that Triceratops dude was rather pointless, was he not? I mean...unless you're buying The Good Dinosaur toys or something....uh....about that...
• And finally, Mom doesn't know it yet, but I bought you a big, plastic Arlo toy for Christmas. Worse? I think Mom saw the same one at Target today and said it was really ugly (and stupid). Vi, help Dad out and love this thing endlessly, okay? And I'll forgive all the Hell you've probably put me through. Well, at least some of it, anyway.

Okay, Vi. I gotta go to bed. As much as I'd rather spend time with you and your brother, even at the moment you're currently/potentially reading this, I have/had (please let this job be past-tense) other kids I need to worry about, too - my students. But, on second thought, it was because of them we could even afford to go the movies, so they're not all bad. Hopefully tomorrow they'll be quiet when they're supposed to be.

I mean, there's always a first time.