February 25, 2009 by Barbara.

After posting those pictures of Obama-mania, I thought I’d write about Reid’s recent encounter with a celebrity. I bought a subscription to the TD Family Adventures series at the National Art Centre Orchestra back in the fall and the second installment took place on Valentine’s Day. The conductor, Boris Brott, dressed as “Boris the Explorer” in a safari outfit, complete with the knee-high socks and a pith helmet. More importantly, from Reid’s perspective, he was joined on stage by Daniel Cook. Yes, that Daniel Cook.

I hadn’t known that Daniel Cook would be there but my trusty CBC Radio One told me about it on Friday and so Reid and I were pumped about it for a good day and a half. When we first arrived at the National Arts Centre, I said, “Look! It’s Daniel Cook. [bomp, bomp].” Okay, I might not have attempted the musical bit but every time I think of Daniel Cook’s name I hear that part of the theme song. Reid was eager to walk over to see him. We weren’t allowed to join the line of autograph seekers as he had to go backstage but we planned out the quickest route back there from our seats. Once the conference was over, we made a beeline to the autograph table and arrived second. We waited a few minutes and then HE came out. I asked Reid if she wanted to stand next to him for a photograph but she didn’t. I handed her the programme, which had a picture of Daniel Cook on it and she walked up to the table. Then, quick as a wink, Reid tossed the programme in front of Daniel Cook, dropped to her knees and crawled over to hide behind my legs. When he looked up from saying good bye to the girls who had been first in line, Daniel Cook saw a programme on the table and a 37-year-old woman smiling at him. The lady - his mother? his agent? - sitting next to him explained where Reid was and he wrote his name as requested. Reid wouldn’t come up to get the programme but took it from me as soon as we got away from the table. If you’re wondering, he looks about the same at 11 as he did when he was on This is Daniel Cook. He’s taller and seems thinner but I’d have recognized him on the street, especially since he was wearing his trademark orange t-shirt. I bet he doesn’t wear orange when he’s not working!

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February 25, 2009 by Barbara.

Two Sundays past, Reid and I met Melissa for lunch at the food court in the mall by our house. As Reid dressed after swimming last Sunday, Reid asked if we could go to a restaurant for lunch. When I said, “no”, she asked if we could eat at the grocery store. I repeated that we were eating at home and Reid said plaintively, “But it’s fun to eat out.” Truer words were never spoken. Reid really is my daughter, you know. I reminded  her that we’d had hotdogs for lunch on Saturday and we headed for home. I noticed that Reid’s jam sandwich from Saturday was still on the passenger seat, safely in its Tupperware, and offered it to her. She accepted it and announced that she was going to eat in the car and then stay in it to play while I went in the house. I guess that Reid is willing to interpret “eating out” to include any meal that doesn’t occur within the confines of the main part of our house. It’s good that she is flexible about food, since I’m the chief cook in our family. ;+)

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