“Charlotte’s Web” was always one of my favorite books growing up. When I was little I just liked the pictures of Fern and her cute little pig. I wanted my own pig so much that my parents went out and bought me my very own concrete foot tall statue of a pig. Yep, they weren’t having any part of me having a pig.
But now my dream has come true. Although I know it has a sad ending already, it’s kind of like watching “Titanic”, you know what is going to happen. History has already written itself, but nonetheless, I still love this little thing. It’s our first year to do the Navarro County Youth Expo, and my oldest son has decided to show a pig this year. So far it has been incredible.
But back to my book reference. “Charlotte’s Web” began to take formation for me in so many ways over the years. It taught me about a great author, a great story about love and friendship, but more importantly how to use your imagination when writing.
Two of my favorite quotes from the book are:
“Why did you do all this for me?’ he asked. ‘I don’t deserve it. I’ve never done anything for you.’ ‘You have been my friend,’ replied Charlotte. ‘That in itself is a tremendous thing.”
“It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer.”
The first quote to me is just dynamic. It is so true. We always expect so much in return from one another; why can’t we be more like Charlotte and just be someone’s friend without expecting anything? Why can’t we just be family and happy without expecting anything?
I have always said my friends are my family, and I don’t expect anything from them except maybe a phone call or a text, and if I am down, a little love. But that is all. I just expect them to be there when I truly need them.
And the second quote, well that’s just a personal thing that I love to have locked in the back of my head. I have always prided myself on loving my friends as family. I would do anything for them, because of them or to them if they needed me. And as you know, I love to write; so, to me that phrase is very fitting.
But I digress. I want to go back to the newest addition of our family. Her name is Marshmallow, because she loves marshmallows; but we have managed to shorten her name to Marsha. The day we picked her up she was only a month old. And mind you, we are new to this whole Youth Expo thing; so of course, my husband was working, and it was myself and the three boys, in my SUV going to pick her up.
We had an oversized dog kennel at the house that I put in the back of my SUV. Yep, not a trailer, or a pickup truck, but my SUV. And so, the guy put her in the cage for us, and off we went. No instructions, no clue, just a squealing baby pig in the back of my SUV. Have I mentioned she was inside my car? Not in a trailer? Ok, just making sure. Because poor thing was so upset, that she defecated in the cage, and was still squealing and running around and managed to fling poop all over the walls and windows of my SUV.
So, upon arrival home, the teen got to clean that out and I stuck about 50 dryer sheets all over my car to get rid of the farm smell, it was awesome!
But as the days went on, I fell more and more in love with this little creature. She has since started climbing in my lap to cuddle, she knows my scent and that of my son’s, and she loves to lay out in the sun for a little fresh air and some sun bathing.
I know we shouldn’t get attached, but when you have a creature that is as smart as your dog, and as cute, and as loyal; it is hard not to sometimes. So, to all you Youth Expo parents and kids out there, hats off to you all, and even more so for owning a trailer.
