Ponderings on dog faced boys, my son’s Werewolf roommate, medical weirdness, art, and an update on my own dog.

When I dropped my daughter off at school this morning she mentioned that today there will be a rally to say farewell to all of the graduating seniors. Seniors were all wearing red – the main school color. Graduation is next week. The last day of school for everyone else is June 4th.

My son Garrett ends his first year of college on June 12. After that he’ll be home for the summer (happy dance for mom time.)

This year he and his best buddy Randy (he of the orange plaid pants) lived in the dorms. They’ve found a small house to live in next year. It is sort of a cottage divided up into a rabbit warren of four bedrooms, a living area, a kitchen and a bathroom. It is cute and old and perfect for college kids. They’re excited to have two new roommates. One is a girl named Layla who lived in the dorms with them. Yes, her parents are Clapton fans. And yes, like Garrett and Randy she is a Vampire. And no romantic interest is there at all with any of the three.

So, being the mom I am, I asked about the fourth roommate.

“Bailey,” said my son.  “She is transferring in from a community college in the bay area. She’s nineteen, like us. She is really cool and wants to learn how to surf.”

Girls. Surfing. College. Boys. OK, I trust my son. I’ve raised him right. He is a sweet kid.

“What’s her major?” I had to ask. It is college so I have to ask.

“Music Composition with a minor in literature.”

“She sounds smart,” I say.

“She is really smart. Hey Mom?”

“Hey Garrett.”

“Bailey is a Werewolf.”

I have no problems with diversity. I have no problem with most Werewolves. But I don’t think my son realizes the problems that he could have living with a Werewolf.

“Garrett, are any of Bailey’s litter mates going to school with you?” Needless to say most Werewolves are multiple births like twins and triplets. Their families are tight and protective.

“Mom, mom, mom. She wasn’t born that way.”

Oh. He went on to explain that she’d been bitten and infected when she was sixteen. It was traumatic to say the least. She is getting along fine with the help of her uncle. I asked if he was also a Werewolf.

“Mom, Bailey’s uncle is a Vampire. He’s her Dad’s brother. His name is Jeff Hayes. Do you know him? He’s been a Vampire for about twenty years. They’re cool mom. Don’t worry.”

“Garrett are you sure she is really a Werewolf and doesn’t just have hypertrichosis?”

“What is hypertrichosis Mom?”

“You know, Jo Jo the Dog Faced boy.”

So I got out my old medical book and texted him a picture.

 

 

 

 

 

As I was looking for the article about hairy boys I came across all sorts of interesting things. There were pages and pages on gunshot wounds.

 

 

 

There are full color pages (if you have a weak stomach you might want to skip these.)

 

 

And this. The woman with the goiter. For those who don’t know, a goiter is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. It is usually caused by the lack of iodine. That is why a lot of salt you buy in the grocery store contains iodine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then I thought about a painting. Stay with me here…

The first time I saw Bartomlomeo Vivarini’s painting of the Madonna with a Goiter I thought “WTF.” It must have been painted for a patron of the artist in the likeness of his wife or mistress. Why else would someone paint a portrait of the Madonna with a goiter?

 

 

 

Then I started thinking about all of the other weird and random sort of ugly and disturbing Madonna and Child paintings out there. In so many baby Jesus looks like a middle aged man. Come on guys, you don’t use Karl Malden as a model for a new born baby. Guys, please, do it right next time or think about another profession. Maybe painting babies or women isn’t your thing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Raphael did it right.

 

 

Bernardino Lunie did it right.

 

 

 

Then I thought of how both art and medicine have changed, but some things stay the same. There will always be quackery and bad art.

I have a funny little medical contraption my husband Teddy brought home a few years ago. It was just for kicks and grins. Yes, thousands of these things were sold.

 

 

 

So back to my son.

“No Mom, Bailey isn’t like Jo Jo. She is a real Werewolf. We’re going to help her out. We can handle it.”

 

 

 

I know it will be ok. I hope. We’ll talk about it more this summer. I hope he is prepared for full moons this fall.

 

UPDATE

Thank you to everyone who read my post about my old dog Jasmine. She is doing better these days. One day she’ll stay in one spot for twelve hours. The next day she will be jumping around like a puppy.

 

 

For all of us in my household and circle this is a time of change. I hope for good change and growth. I have a feeling summer will bring good things. Very good things.

So now… after all of that fun, I have a short story to write and some artwork I need to finish up.

Have a good weekend everyone. And stay away from the medical books.

~ Juliette aka Vampire Maman

 

Note: I’m having problems with the formatting on this post. Ugh.