Posted by Maude Pattullo on March 24, 1999 at 00:36:37:
In Reply to: Re: anti-collector posted by R. John Howe on March 23, 1999 at 18:21:11:
The image of the parent living vicariously through the child seems slightly extreme here. But the underlying metaphor could be apt.
As the mother of a child under 10, and of several rugs far older than that, I would suggest instead that the parent's primary impulse is to protect, to be an advocat, an interface between the child's spirit and the wearing world all around. And to be the first person to know better than anyone else that other spirit, its foibles and weaknesses, it
glories and extraordinaries.
Of course, it cannot be this way with a rug..there
have been others before us. But we do not know how well they loved, how keen their eye; did they turn it over and lie on it, knees scruffed, for hours, contemplating why this color here, that one there, like looking at your child's hair in August, wondering how the sunlight got in there?
Probably not.
And my advice to you all is to revel in your enjoyment of these things, and do your duty by protecting and preserving them. And delight in your analyses, too, and your wonderful squabbles.
There is nothing as hope-provoking as an argument over family supper amongst people who, fundamentally agree with each other.
And d..n these tiny boxes for leaving messages.