One day last week we were killing some time in the children’s section at Borders, me and Jackson. Jackson has enough books to choke a television executive, thanks to an incredibly generous sales rep friend at HarperCollins, so we veered away from the stacks to check out a rack of Beanie Babies. I got sort of attached to a little beaver in a satin top hat and bow tie, and when I read his tag I was excited to learn that it was actually Punxsutawny Phil, the half-price groundhog whose selling window shuts pretty quickly every year on February 3. Jackson was trying to talk me into whatever, a stuffed fish or something, and this is where I admit that when we’re in a toy-buying situation I will only loosen up the $5 rule when Jackson chooses a toy that I like. So, I won’t buy him the $13 spy kit he’s begging me for that I tell him is full of breakable, loseable little pieces that he’ll be bored with after fifteen minutes, but I will buy him the $16 whirly light-up doohicky because I want to take it home and play with it myself. And since Phil was reduced to $2.99, well. We brought Phil out to the bench where Jack was waiting for us with a smoothie. I showed him Phil. “A stuffed rodent, fantastic,” he said. “No, it’s Punxsutawny Phil!” I said. “He was half price!” I waved Phil’s little paw at Jack, who, predictably, once I reminded him of Phil’s inspirational purpose, smirked. “They saw you coming,” he said. However, not one to let cynicism spoil my groundhog joy, Jackson said, “When we get home, can we watch that movie where the guy lives the same day over and over again?”
I love being a parent most days, but extra much during a Groundhog Day/Ghostbusters II double feature in bed (with popcorn) on a Tuesday afternoon.
Phil says Hi!!
I would’ve brought him home, too – he’s adorable!
Hi Phil!
He looks like he’s giving us a thumbs up…appropriate since it’s FINALLY SPRING in Vancouver.
Jackson just became my favorite nearly-7-year-old ever. I love that movie where the guy lives the same day over and over again.
super double ditto. he would come home with me and promptly have found a home with all my hello kitties.
I’m sure that Phil is one of the most ingenious beanie babies ever. And it’s dang adorable too.
One of the many drawbacks to having a 20-year old child (the main one, of course, being that one is old enough to have a 20-year old child) is the inability to disguise one’s stuffed animal lust under the guise of “Rachel fell in love with it….I had to get it!”
Sigh.
You have a lot of dark sides Fussy
what an awesome kid. i got you, babe.
You said “I got sort of attached to a little beaver.”
First of all, stop playing with my husband Puxatawney Phil. Did I spell that right? Probably not.
ANYWAY, one of my fav movies ever is Groundhog Day. I always watch it and think, wouldn’t it be great to have do overs in life once you had the info to do it again?
Loving the little guy’s perky stance, but not quite sure about his top hat. The last chap I saw wearing one was an overdressed funeral director and I think I’m still seeing his superimposed aura…
FAR worse ways to spend a Tuesday afternoon than a Ghostbusters & Groundhog marathon. A stuffed fish wouldn’t have resulted in popcorn. You chose well.
Someday I would like to have a child and watch cheesy 80′s/90′s movies with it.
Just wait until he’s old enough to come out with, “I always drink to world peace.”
Oh, Holy Crap, I LOVE that! I love the little stuffed groundhog in the satin top hat and Groundhog Day and Ghostbusters II are two of my favorite movies. Bill Murray at his best, if you ask me… well, that and Lost in Translation, which you can’t really watch with a 6 year old. Or 7 year old in your case.
And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Jackson! YeeHee.
P.S. I’m the same way with buying toys for my kid… I can’t bear to spend $30 on a car racing video game for no good reason, but happily plunk down $60 for Lego sets. No logic there, but it is my money. Heh.
Great post. Must rent Groundhog Day again…
love that movie, your son is awesome.
love that movie, your son is awesome.
I don’t think I’ve seen Groundhog Day. and happy birthday to Jackson!
“Strike up the music, the band has begun. [bum bum bum bum] The Pennsylvaaaaaania Polka!”
I grew up in Punxsutawney and every year, my mom buys me one of those Beanie Babies. I like to line them up on top of our entertainment center like a little groundhog army.
Oh Yeah Baby! You did good! There’s no reason buying your child a toy can’t be as rewarding for you. And should be! tee hee hee
Don’t get me started on beanie babies! I used to have around 300 of them or something… now I have like 3. Sold ‘em all for about $50.
has he hit webkinz mode yet? now THAT’S when the toy mania will hit the proverbial fan. it’s the one of the few times you will buy toys, if only because your kids can use them on the web. hard to explain, but the toys become floor fodder; it’s all about the online community…
is it wrong that i hope jackson and sophie have a thing when they are grown up? (she put a snow white temporary tattoo on her ass yesterday, if he’s into that)
happy birthday to all of you!
xoxo
With three daughters I NEVER give in to stuffed animal sales…..I have nowhere to put all the little creatures!
But, with the hundreds that we have, we don’t have a groundhog. He would be a nice addition…so cute.
Aw he’s so cute! Great way to spend an afternoon. I need popcorn now.
He be so debonair in his top hat and bow tie.
Wow, that really does sound like the perfect Tuesday afternoon.
After seeing Ghostbusters on TV, my 5 year old boy has become OBSESSED with Bill Murray. I have now seen Ghostbusters I & II, and Groundhog Day about a bajillion times, and there have been entire days where he has only responded to “Dr. Venkman”. And in response to Miriam, he actually does come out with quotes like “I always drink to world peace.”
I can’t see/hear/think about anything have to do with Groundhogs without hearing Bill Murray’s voice in my head saying, “Don’t drive angry!”
Happy birthday to Jackson!
Jules
House of Jules
He’s awfully cute. I have 3 real groundhogs in my backyard that I’m looking to unload if you’d like one!