WW: I Am Thankful for... Make Believe!
Wet. Shivering. Seven. Running full speed ahead, I crashed into a wave in the Pacific ocean that buckled my knees, knocking me flat on my sandy bum. Exhilaration set in as not only salt water poured out of my mouth, but blood as well, because that meant I had lost my top front tooth.
The two—the fall of my body and my tooth—as it turns out, were completely unrelated. I had wiggled all the wiggle room right out of that tooth. But... as most kids do, I wouldn't make that final tug—the twist or turn that would set it free from its secure space in my mouth. And yet, when it came out of its own free will, I was elated, thinking of fairies and pixie dust and pots of gold at the ends of rainbows, and all things magical. Fairies can do that to a young girl, you know! And, the Tooth Fairy was no different.
In my out-of-this-world state of mind, I began my note to said fairy. But, what started out as magical quickly turned matter of fact when I ended my short note with this statement: "Just in case you are wondering, I accept credit cards!"
My parents (I mean, the Tooth Fairy—hope I didn't ruin it for any of you) rewarded my "creativity" with a crisp $5 bill.
More than 20 years later—tonight, in fact—I watched as my son went through the same rollercoaster ride of emotion with his top front tooth. Should it stay or should it go? Until finally the tooth made its voice heard by going toward greener pastures. And I am glad it did, because in an instant make believe was alive and kicking in our home as Red Rover ran around half laughing, half crying and totally elated. Then, he posed for, perhaps, one of the worst pictures we have of him, which was difficult to take since he was singing "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth!" No problem with bedtime for this one!
BTW: No credit cards for this Tooth Fairy!
I am participating at Wordful Wednesday and at Wordless Wednesday.
Posts
November 19, 2008 at 2:33 AM
I just remembered how awful it feels when you rub your tongue on your gums just after you've lost a tooth! ICK!!
November 19, 2008 at 4:22 AM
Boy, that sure would be nice if the tooth fairy took CC. She has a lot of teeth to collect here
November 19, 2008 at 8:02 AM
Hilarious. When my Emma lost her second front tooth I took a picture and it was HIDEOUS. I've forgotten to post it. The tooth fairy in my house does not pay by credit card, either. :)
November 19, 2008 at 8:51 AM
Haha! Love the pictures! The beach of course, I have never seen... I know I know.. very sad.
I have never done the tooth fairy thing in my house, yet anyway. I may have to get creative!
November 19, 2008 at 9:06 AM
hilarious- so remember that and am dreading my son's teeth falling out - he will not take it well!!!!
November 19, 2008 at 10:02 AM
I love the picture...especially after knowing he's singing as you took it. PERFECT lost tooth shot.
And I love your tooth fairy note. Clearly your creativity and way with words started early!
November 19, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Jyl, that thoothless picture is hilarious!
And congrats on raising so much money!
I would love to participate, but it starts when I'm at work, and then I have to leave, so I have a hard time with it.
November 19, 2008 at 10:52 AM
I love the description of how you lost your front tooth...and Red Rover looks mighty cute without his too!
We haven't gotten to the whole "tooth fairy" think yet in our pink house, but it's coming. My daughter said she wants to lose her teeth so she can get something delivered from the fairy herself. No, I'm not taking credit cards either! LOL
Enjoyed GNO last night! Have a great day!
November 19, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Toooooo funny!!!
November 19, 2008 at 3:11 PM
Aw! My middle child smashed her face when she was two, so had no front teeth until she was seven. Then two weeks later, she smashed those teeth and had to get falsies. Then she smashed those. Two more times.
Curious and clumsy should NEVER be mixed into the same child. EVER. lol
November 19, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Haha. So funny.
November 19, 2008 at 5:45 PM
LOL! My son is missing his 2 front teeth as well! It is ADORABLE!
Great post...
November 19, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Too funny! Hope the tooth fairy was generous!
November 19, 2008 at 7:42 PM
Haha that picture is hilarious!
And I just need to thank you because now I'm singing "should I stay or should I go" in my head. Hmmm perhaps I should find my ipod. ;)
November 20, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Sweet Post, and how adorable!
December 7, 2008 at 9:46 AM
Ok, Jyl, I know I've never left a comment for you before, and given all the great things you've written in here, I probably should have, if for no other reason than to tell you how proud of you I am. But, I feel compelled to write now to tell you first, great post--It's nice to remember all those little things that I shared with you and the rest of our family (I can still taste that salt water myself!)--and, second, $5.00!!! For a tooth!! What's up with that? I don't remember ever getting more than $1.00, even for the one I lost in the hot dog at Ho Ho Kam Park. I'm gonna have a word with mom and dad about this one ;-)