Stories of cars and strange names

Our time in Vermont has seen limited internet access and thus blogging, but with the chance appearance of a wireless connection, I'll try and relate some of the new traditions that have emerged here. The ability to go outside during the summer months has made a big difference in little and small ways. For instance, Jamie has taken to enjoying a popsicle on the porch after dinner. It's a messy business, even in the relative cool of a Vermont summer. But this has also become a time for discussion as he likes to sit out there with one of us and "talk about things." As some of you know Jamie likes to throw out topics for discussion. Often this is a challenging constellation of elements. For instance he might say, "Let's talk about babies, bottles and...trees." Or, "Let's talk about working trucks, dirt and snacks." Lately, however, he is into having us making up stories for him.

Predictably, this soon became focused on cars and trucks and we've had to limit the time for these stories to when we were in the car. Jamie's main contribution to the story are names. Thus far we have discussed a cross-country driving big rig named "Clake Big," a pair of race cars who create baby race cars (no details asked, none given on this process), named Clean and Beean, and, our personal favorite, a run-away orange Volkswagen Beetle named "Clampy Amp Cleeamp."