Snippets and Snatches

 It is strange to think that the idea for a lion costume my son came up with for a harvest festival recently, may have had its inspiration deep in his past.  I am embarrassed still by the lion costume I came up with for my son’s Halloween party and parade at daycare when he was four years old.  The lion mask was pretty good except he could hardly see to walk in it.  It was the mane I made from a mop head that was the questionable part of the costume.  I don’t remember if Jason and I dyed it or painted it this golden color.  And as long as he didn’t move it stayed on alright.  That was okay until the costume parade started up outside and as one can easily see, the poor kid had to hold the “mane” on his head while trying not to trip with the mask obstructing his view.  I was mortified at how lame my efforts were and wonder if he was traumatized by this costume debacle.  Is it a coincidence that the inspiration for Jason’s grown up lion costume came from the fable, The Lion and the Mouse?  Perhaps on some level the poor kid had a deep, unconscious need to roar like a lion now as a grown man because of that lame homemade costume his mother came up with.  And now, of course, as the story goes, the tiny little mouse saves the lion by removing the thorn from his paw.  His tiny little mouse is his baby girl Isa born a few months ago and her presence in our lives is removing many thorns.  One of the blessings of becoming a parent is that sometimes we just may get a chance to rectify the mistakes of the past.  Trust me, if I could have a do-over on this costume I would but somehow Jason did it for me and in my opinion He is Lion, hear him roar!