With Friends Like These…
On Tuesday, I went to see a friend who had just returned from California where she had been helping her parents pack up their things for a move. She was telling me about the trip and said that she came home with a suitcase full of things that her mother no longer wanted. She then went into another room and returned with the fanciest rabbit I have ever seen. This rabbit is big. It has long ears bedecked with frilly green ribbons and it is wearing a floral dress and plaid bloomers that might have previously belonged to Laura Ingalls. I gasped in horror and laughed. My friend is a lot like me and neither of us are into ribbons and petticoats. This rabbit is not something that either of us would have in our homes in a million years. But, my friend’s mother loved it and wanted it to go to someone she knew and so my friend brought it back with her. So, there I stood laughing at this large ornate rabbit when my friend spoke words that struck fear in my heart. She said with a mischievous smile, “I think Zeca would love this.” I laughed nervously and said, “Oh…she would…but she must never know of this.” There will be no oversized frilly rabbits in my house.
That night, the kids and I spontaneously ended up having dinner with this friend and her family. We shared a great meal and then all the children dispersed to play. We sat at the table chatting and then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw it. My daughter had found the oversized frilly rabbit. She was waltzing with it, cooing into its freakishly long ears. Filled with panic and horror, I turned to my friend for help but she simply said, “I knew she’d love it.” Then, this friend…a woman I have known for over 20 years…did the unspeakable. She got up, went over to Zeca and said, “Honey, you can take that bunny home with you.” Zeca’s eyes widened in joy. My friend turned to me and flashed a most evil grin and I said, “Oh, we could never take something so special.” My friend looked deeply into Zeca’s eyes and said, “Zeca, I want you to have the bunny” and that was that. The large frilly bunny has come to stay with us and she loves that damn rabbit. Loves it. I find it aesthetically displeasing but what can I do when faced with the cuteness. (Click to enlarge the collage).
The pictures capture only part of the love. I thought you all might like to see the love revealed in real time…
In completely unrelated news, I am now accepting applications for new friends. I haven’t opened up this process in about 20 years but recent circumstances have resulted in a few openings. People with frilly rabbits need not apply.
ETA: Remember…today is the last day to enter the Up Popped A Fox reader appreciation giveaway. Leave a comment on this post today and be entered to win The Peep Show DVD (with extras) or a CD of original music.
Posted: April 23rd, 2009 under Uncategorized.
Comments
Comment from Vikki
Time April 23, 2009 at 8:48 am
Thus the handy dandy credits after the video. She is a freestyle singer.
Comment from Ali B.
Time April 23, 2009 at 9:15 am
She IS singing about gin and tonics! I had to rewind to make sure I had that right.
Comment from Missy
Time April 23, 2009 at 9:23 am
The credits were very helpful. You could have the next great stream of conciousness performance artist on your hands! I am not sure who the first is…
Oh that rabbit is scary. I am afraid of it.
Comment from Vikki
Time April 23, 2009 at 9:37 am
Luisa is worried that we’ll get turned into the authorities because our daughter sings about alcoholic beverages.
Comment from betty t
Time April 23, 2009 at 9:52 am
that reminds me of the time my niece gave my son her game boy when Sarah and I were not around. The rest is history and we would have never given him one.
Comment from amy k
Time April 23, 2009 at 9:56 am
“It’s Easter today. We must have Gin & Tonics” Catchy tune.
But seriously, if you can’t sing about gin & tonics and chewing gum with your best friend Bunny, than who can you sing about them with?
Comment from Luis
Time April 23, 2009 at 9:56 am
I thought you were supposed to have mimosas on Easter!
Comment from Vikki
Time April 23, 2009 at 10:04 am
Betty – Miguel has a game boy. We let my mom get him one for Christmas. We have a complicated relationship to the Gameboy.
Comment from Jilava
Time April 23, 2009 at 10:21 am
That bunny doesn’t look a day over 35.
Comment from Ann-Louise
Time April 23, 2009 at 10:23 am
I am just DYING over BunnyLuv – who can resist such charm? Such enthusiasm? A worldview embracing refreshing beverages and love for the planet and gum and pantaloons?!? Oh, the dangers of raising children in this post-modern era… We raise our glasses in solidarity.
Comment from Mel
Time April 23, 2009 at 10:28 am
I had a bunny like that! I’m not a ribbons and petticoats kinda girl either. My Mom thought it was adorable. She also once bought me a ceramic lamb as a door stop. I don’t know where either of these items are anymore, but I think she wanted me to take the rabbit to college with me.
You fear and dread is exactly how I felt about Barbie. I let it go for fear that she would rebel and turn into one big life-sized Barbie. I still probably contributed to her love by making snide comments like “you know, real women can’t possibly look like that.” and “don’t you think her face looks kind of empty and creepy”.
Comment from Eliza
Time April 23, 2009 at 10:31 am
My MIL used to give the kids the most hideous things ever–purple polyester jog suits and made-in-China kittens covered with rabbit (?) fur. Horrible. Thankfully she’s gone now.
Comment from Vikki
Time April 23, 2009 at 10:37 am
My sister was present at the birth of both of our kids. When she stepped off the plane before Miguel was born, she had an enormous brown bear with her (he still sleeps with it). When she stepped off the plan before Zeca was born, she was carrying a large white bear with a huge purple hat that had a giant pink plume. That bear? The one she gave Zeca? It sang and ITS MOUTH MOVED. Zeca loved that thing as a baby and carried it everywhere with her when she got older. She threw it on the floor one too many times though and it finally broke. I could barely contain my joy as I held her little sobbing body.
Comment from Deborah
Time April 23, 2009 at 11:38 am
Perhaps she will love this bunny so much that it becomes real-like the Velveteen Rabbit-and it will run off with all the other rabbits in the woods?
Accepting New Friends. Funny!
Comment from Missy
Time April 23, 2009 at 11:47 am
Purple hat bear story! Oh Vikki! You slay me!
Deborah has a very good point!
Comment from Vikki
Time April 23, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Have any of you read the Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane? Well, I read it after Miguel and thinking of Edward is the only thing that allows me to show compassion for the frilly bunny.
Comment from Susan
Time April 23, 2009 at 12:53 pm
All I caught as well was the “G & T” reference. I’m grateful that at least one other four-year-old knows what these are. I worry sometimes that Children’s Aid will assume that we actually put the gin in
my ones we make for our son.
Comment from Susan
Time April 23, 2009 at 12:59 pm
I would like it known that I am going to be 46 and Zeca and I were talking about this last weekend while I was drinking gin and tonics at your house. So, it’s really a love song to me.
Comment from Meghan
Time April 23, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I actually have a bunny like that from when I was a kid. My grandmother made them for me and my sisters. Also, she made one for each of my kids and we have those, too. But, they’re not that big. I think it’ll get old for her and eventually, you can put the bunny away. Hopefully, for your sake. 
I loved the video! I heard “46, Easter, and gin and tonics”. Thanks for the credits. That was great. Something to show her when she gets older.
Comment from lula
Time April 23, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I found myself humming along to Super Trouper, then screeched and rewinded the gin and tonic and generally enjoyed every second! But holy cow, that is a big bunny. He reminds me of that dressed lifesize rabbit on TV in my younger years. It tended to morph here and there. I forgot its name now. Anyone?
Loved, loved, loved it!
Comment from leigh
Time April 23, 2009 at 2:07 pm
all i have to say is lol
Comment from Kelly
Time April 23, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I’m thinkin’ the former friend should offer the bunny’s new family a lifetime supply of Gin & tonics.
Comment from Trish
Time April 23, 2009 at 4:55 pm
LOL Please repeat this as often as necessary. “Frilly Rabbits cannot hurt me” but your friends can.
Thank You lovely rabbit and video.
Comment from Beth
Time April 23, 2009 at 7:11 pm
My boyfriend is from Germany, and his mother came to Seattle last Christmas to celebrate with him, me, and my extensive family. A few days before Christmas we all went to Fred Meyer for something or other. My boyfriends Mom and I were walking around laughing at all the gaudiness of an American Christmas. We came across a life size fake furred robot pony who, with enough batteries, would swing his head around to look at you, and whinny. We were both horrified.
Fast forward to two days later, walking into my mom’s house for Christmas dinner, to find that my 5 year old niece had received one of these from Santa.
We diplomatically held our tongues, and were immediately introduced to the pony by its ecstatic owner. After an evening spent with the pony (big enough to comfortably sit said 5 year old) and its charming owner, both my boyfriend’s mom and I agreed that the pony was vastly improved by proper ownership.
Comment from Vikki
Time April 23, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Oh! I’ve seen one of those ponies. I saw one at Target last year. Freaked Me Out. Thanks for reminding me of that because it also makes the bunny seem like a pretty good deal.
Comment from angelina
Time April 24, 2009 at 1:48 am
that is one of the best songs I’ve ever heard IN MY LIFE! I was absolutely expecting something about candy, but we ‘mostly have gin and tonics’?!? Wow… Can we come live with your family? It’s okay to kiss boobies in your house, you roast peeps, and g&t’s and chewing gum for Easter! yeee-haw!! All we have is Jesus cleaning garages….
Comment from Shel
Time April 25, 2009 at 9:00 pm
O. My. God.
I’m glad to see that you’re continuing your use of the video editing software… and that Zeca has your singing/songwriting abilities. I love how she ends it — or was that just clever editing? It seemed so final, with the stance and grin like she does. Boom. Done.
Classic.
Comment from Elizabeth
Time April 27, 2009 at 4:21 pm
I had a very similar bunny when I was little. And someone had to read the Velveteen Rabbit to me at bedtime every night. I had a brief frilly, girly phase. I got over it.
Comment from Katherine
Time April 23, 2009 at 8:42 am
At least Zeca has much better fashion sense than the bunny. I knew I heard her sing about G&T. I think it is the only thing I understood in the song.