Yes, three months. It’s been a great ride. Mummy and Daddy have learned a lot about Andrea, what she likes and doesn’t like, what kind of person she is, how to communicate with her and all kinds of stuff. It’s been lovely all the way.
Now the first traditionl and formalistic event centered around the prevailing common superstition is almost upon us. On August 21. Andrea will be brought in front of a priest of said superstition, he will splash some “holy” water on her head and she will be saved from eternal damnation in that particular superstition. I am not quite sure what that means for punishment in other superstitions, but I assume it is not good.
So, why do it? Why go through with what amounts to a sham ritual? For a number of reasons, but “tradition” being a chief concern. Rites and rituals performed when children are past the problematic first three months (way back when, that was the touch-and-go period) is common in all cultures and at all times. The Christian Baptism/Christening, which was originally perfomed on adults, adopted this older tradition and made it its own. As it did with most of the other traditions people wrongly believe are Christian (confirmation, Christmas, easter etc). So, we’ll do it too. There is also the in-laws to consider, they are quite religious and would probably be a bit upset if we sent poor Andrea to eternal damnation, which I understand is the faith of the un-baptised/christened. The fact that nobody has a problem with the concept of eternal damnation in this particular form of superstition is a mystery to me. He seems rather evil that god of theirs.
Anyway, that was the rant. On August 21. I will smile and be nice to the priest. I promise.
As for Andrea, and how she’s doing? She’s great. She has now found her voice and spends countless hours conversing with Mummy and Daddy. The former seems to understand each and every word Andrea says, Daddy on the other hand, being rather slow, is still in the learning phase. We have decided to do something silly though, which is to be a bi-lingual family. This means that Mummy in general speaks Norwegian, while Daddy blabbers away in a slightly Irish-accented English. Andrea will probably grow up sounding like she is a Dublin girl who’s spent too much time in California and Norway. To ensure this, we are heading over to Dublin for a few days this summer. Hope to meet at least Catherine and Conor with Iseult and Theo, Seamus and perhaps also our old friends Mark and Janice with kids.
Andrea 