The last two weeks have seen a dizzying influx of birthday presents for both of my children (they were both born in March). Yesterday, while visiting some family in Westchester, Oliver received a Sesame Street "Giggle n' Go Garage" (pictured). He immediately warmed to it, especially the two little cars festooned with the faces of Elmo and Cookie Monster. One of my cousins-in-law put it together, and I remember hearing her remark at how it was decidedly not an easy task to accomplish. I probably scoffed and made some patronizing comment or another, as is my wont.
Well, she has the last laugh. When little Oliver implored me to put it together for him this morning, the "Giggle n' Go Garage" almost got the better of me. While consisting of only eight plastic pieces (one of which is already missing), to fully assemble this torturous, candy colored nightmare proved to be one of the most difficult tasks I've grappled with in recent memory (and this includes doing my taxes). I was starting to entertain thoughts involving defenestration. The plastic pieces must be clasped together just so in a maddeningly tenuous fashion, and the slightest overcompensation of pressure invariably causes it to snap apart. I was only on my first cup of coffee when I started, but I was ready for my first bourbon by the end of it.
I suppose I won in the end, but it hardly feels like victory. It now sits -- fully assembled (apart from that one incidental support piece) -- in our living room mocking me, the unblinking bug eyes of the the Sesame Street crew staring at me like a deranged Mount Rushmore. If I walk by it with two much of a forceful stride, Elmo's sickly little voice breaks the silence with a snottily unsolicited "Oil Change And A Tune Up."
Clearly, I'm being karmically punished for something.
Recent Comments