I’m With The Band

Our family is currently on a vacation roadtrip. To liven things up in the evenings, Cat and Tate have started performing in-room concerts atop the beds for us just prior to lights-out time. One child is the “star” while the other is the “back-up dancer” which largely consists of acting out the song being performed with elaborate (though largely spastic) dance (ish) moves. If you are envisioning a mild seizure set to enthusiastic cat yowling, you are in the ballpark.

Cat started the trend with a heart-warming, if mostly off-key, rendition of “Obladi, Oblada.” (She has recently discovered The Beatles and is working her way through their catalog.) I knew we were in trouble when Tate took the stage and performed “Oops, I Did It Again” with such authentic pop-tart grinding as to cause her father to declare that she would not be allowed out of the house until she is 30 unless it is to attend convent school. It should be noted Tate is 6, and her father is not Catholic.

The second night of the concert series kicked off with Cat performing Creed’s “With Arms Wide Open” preceded by a dedication to “my wonderful daddy who I love a bunch and who heard this song on the day I was born.” Both Chris and Cat were awash in tears and mutual admiration by the end of song.

Tate performed “Oops, I Did It Again” (again) and dedicated it “to my dog Max, who I love and who is as fun as this song.”

After the concert, I asked Tate, if she was going to dedicate a song to her dear old mom, what the song might be. I thought, mistakenly, that she would pick something like “Obladi, Oblada” which we sing in the car, or “These Are the Days” which I have sung to her since she was a baby, or “I’ve Just Seen A Face,” which my dad sang to me and which I have sung countless times to the girls.

Her choice? “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince.

Seriously?

“Tater, why would you pick THAT song?

“It reminds me of you, Mom.”

“And WHY does that song remind you of me?”

“It’s fun and energetic like you, and it makes me happy like you do,” she said. I was awash in maternal satisfaction and general good feelings until she continued, “Plus, you’re nuts.”