puppetmaker | RIP Octavia Butler

I had the honor to be on a couple of panels with Octavia Butler a number of years ago. Gracious is the word I would use to describe her. She was also great with fans. I heard of her passing and my sympathies to her family and friends. She was a brilliant writer and a good human being. I think I'll dig out my copy of the Kindred and reread it.

At Farpoint were a couple of charity dogs (dogs raising money for charity). Caroline had great fun petting them. They were selling "autographed" pictures of the dogs that Ariel bought Caroline. Caroline has been carrying them around ever since and shows them to everyone she meets. They ask if they are her doggies and she smiles and shakes her head no. We then explain where she got the pictures. This morning she was showing the pictures of the dogs to the cats and telling the cats the name of the dogs. One of the photos went missing yesterday afternoon and it took me a minute to figure out that Caroline was asking about Sam's picture. We found it after I had Caroline retrace her steps in the house.

Caroline has discovered the game of tag and loves it. She plays sneak tag. I'll be walking through the house and all of the sudden I will feel and tap and hear her say, "Tag! You're it!" And I proceeded to chase Caroline around until I can tag her. A lot of giggling ensues.

I got a bunch of things done yesterday so I don't feel too bad. I, of course, have a bunch of things to do today. But it is better than the alternative.

I am grateful for Caroline sense of play.