Kid's Eye View

On Saturday, February the fourth, Clara Grace went to one of her favorite places, the Tennessee Aquarium. So many eventful things happened on this trip that they are worth recording.

1. First of all, a gigantic, six-inch, purple butterfly took a decided liking to the little girl and fluttered inches from her face. Clara Grace, on the other hand, did not return the insect’s friendly attention and batted at it until being rescued by Daddy.
2. Second, Clara Grace who is usually very shy around strangers came completely out of her shell that afternoon. On one occasion, she spotted a group of six adults standing in a circle and deep in conversation. She noticed the single opening left in the group and stepped in, hands folded behind her and face tilted upward to the towering grown-ups as if to say, “Don’t mind me, just carry on with whatever it was you were saying.”
3. At another point, she saw a man standing near a tank of fish, which she could see so much better if she could stand on the ledge in front. Noticing that he was closer than Mommy or Daddy, she decided to try out talking to someone else for a change. “Up, up!” she demanded.
4. Another strange thing that day was how different floor textures seemed to fascinate her. Whenever there was a switch from tile to carpet, or a metal grate, she was obligated to examine it thoroughly. Any of these things took precedence over whatever her mommy or daddy were showing her, whether it was a ten foot shark or a six foot catfish.