What did you expect?

And that’s how we discovered what may or may not be a new discovery: red wine (Côtes-du-Rhône) and ice cream (vanilla). I found the concoction refreshing on a warm, humid afternoon, but I don’t think I’ll try it again.

I sat in the most distant part of the courtyard, but I couldn’t avoid the huge, meretricious canvas even thought it was partially obscured by a stack of chairs. I left after only two glasses of wine.

I usually get some good answers, ranging from “I can’t believe that the little creature had a personality the minute it emerged from the womb,” to, “I wish we wouldn’t have done it.” (Of course, a parent would have used “he” or “she” in the preceding sentence instead of “it,” but then I’m not a parent.) The most common response is, “I’m no longer the center of the universe, and it’s wonderful.” Why anyone would choose to relinquish their position at the center of the universe is beyond me, but then again I’m not a parent.

Today, Thomas gave me the best answer to my query. After a thoughtful pause, he replied, “I suppose the biggest surprise about being a father is being a father.”

He was lying, but his is still my favorite answer.

Leopold was flinging all kinds of objects into the distant woods: furniture, sacks of garbage, books, small boulders, and even an old bicycle.

I tried discussing his work, but we didn’t get very far since I can’t speak Belgian and Leopold spoke very little English. We did, however, have an interesting, albeit brief, discussion about the nature of ideas.

“You must approach the idea as if a virgin,” Leopold declared.

“Me or the idea?” I asked.

“Of course both,” he replied.

And then he sent a horse’s leg whirling and sailing far down the hill. I didn’t hear it land.