The New Corinthian.

So if you read the blog, you’re aware that a lot of the stories I tell here feature my kids.

Sometimes they’re sweet stories. Sometimes funny stories. Or sometimes they’re stories about how I struggle to balance being a dad with… whatever else it is that I’m supposed to be.

(Huh. Went looking for the link for that blog and couldn’t find it. Did I never post that one online? It’s possible. I have roughly 300 half-written blogs that I don’t know if I’ll ever finish.)

Anyway. Not every parenting experience contains a lot of narrative. Sometimes your kid just does something and you want to share it….

For example, this Saturday, Cutie came into my room and told me that he wanted me to see his new “art installation.” So I go into the other room and this is what is on the computer screen….

(You can click to embiggen if you really want to, but….)

I want to say, “There’s a lot to unpack here.” But the truth is, I don’t think it will bear up under much unpacking. Instead can we just agree that this is… That there’s just a lot.

I wish I could share the entire experience with you of zooming in…. and in… and in…. Like an endless Mandelbrot nightmare. Like some cocaine-fueled Hollywood producer working on Sandman gave the note, “Listen, I love this Corinthian character. Super spooky. The best. But… and just come along with me here… what if we kept all that AND made him somehow cuter and also more purple and infinite?”

Y’know what? I’m gonna retract the cocaine jab there. That is an actual non-drugged, non-ironic thing someone would say in LA. I think Neil would back me up on that.

Also, I’d like to make it clear, there’s no cheap cut-and-paste going on here. It’s bespoke. Each of the faces-in-eyes-in-faces is its own small-batch artisanal horror.

It’s the night terrors of turtles all the way down….

And that’s it. No moral. No narrative arc. No sense.

Just nonsense.

That’s something my boys help me remember. I am too often with the world, getting and spending. My boys help draw me back to my other, better self from long ago, that knew the joy of the ridiculous.

So I’m sharing it with you.

Hope y’all are doing okay.

pat

This entry was posted in Cutie Snoo, day in the life, graphic novelsBy Pat33 Responses

30 Comments

  1. Marc
    Posted November 15, 2021 at 11:27 PM | Permalink

    Enjoy your kids. Enjoy your better self. Just got some Big Hugs from my youngest, so I am enjoying my better self as well.
    To being our better selves!

  2. Anna
    Posted November 16, 2021 at 1:40 AM | Permalink

    Magnificent art installation!

  3. Christian Scholtes
    Posted November 16, 2021 at 7:34 AM | Permalink

    Dear Pat,

    Speaking of half finished stories. Sometimes I wish you were just a blogger, then I’d just be happy to read your so very wonderful posts. Alas, you are a writer too, and then my own expectations kick in, spoiling (a bit) the joy of reading your blog. Please don’t be mad. But somewhere between you, Mr. Martin and Mr. Lynch, my love of epic fantasy got very, very cautious in starting unfinished series.

    All the very best to you and your beloved ones,
    Chris

    • Kelly Grojean
      Posted November 16, 2021 at 12:10 PM | Permalink

      Me too.

      • William
        Posted November 16, 2021 at 2:22 PM | Permalink

        Me too

        • Pelle
          Posted November 19, 2021 at 8:56 AM | Permalink

          Me too.

          • Janis
            Posted November 23, 2021 at 3:41 PM | Permalink

            …not me, though. Still love reading different stuff, when I take the time to. I do not make my joy in reading dependent on a single author. Also: Almost anything Pat writes is great, from the Lightning Tree to Slow Regards. Anyway, thanks for sharing this! :)

          • Alex
            Posted November 25, 2021 at 8:29 PM | Permalink

            I know what you mean, but here’s an easy fix for that. Remember he’s just a person who, owing nothing to anyone, has decided to share some of himself with the world through his gift; and the world is a little brighter for it. If our expectations lessen our enjoyment, it’s our fault for having expectations.

  4. Peter Pevensie
    Posted November 16, 2021 at 11:14 AM | Permalink

    Hey, I’m sure that pretty much everybody says this all the time, but thank you. Your blog always makes me excited whenever I see that there is a new post. Thank you for making absolutely certain that everything is as perfect as you can get it, and thanks for doing good things with your talent, hard work, and the things that it got you.

  5. Katy
    Posted November 16, 2021 at 11:58 AM | Permalink

    One of the many selfish reasons I look forward to motherhood is the return to finding joy and absolute imagination in the most simple of things. Reminders like this, in times like these, are so needed. Thank you for sharing, Pat!

    • Posted November 16, 2021 at 1:13 PM | Permalink

      It’s one of the greatest joys of parenthood, in my opinion. Not only does it help you remember the joys of small things, but introducing your children to things you love means you get to experience them again as if for the first time.

  6. BarbarianOfSeville
    Posted November 16, 2021 at 12:07 PM | Permalink

    Can’t wait to add to my ink!

  7. Beatriz
    Posted November 16, 2021 at 12:08 PM | Permalink

    i genuinely, unironically, think your son’s work was genius and could be evolved into a sick horror game. thank you for sharing with us how simply magical parenting can be.

  8. Posted November 16, 2021 at 12:21 PM | Permalink

    Nice post. Have to say though, that it would be even nicer on a modern website that is legible on a small phone screen. Yes, I’m that guy. (I can help resolve the problem)

  9. Ronnie
    Posted November 16, 2021 at 12:45 PM | Permalink

    It’s always really great to hear from you. Today, I needed a reminder to stop and soak in the wonder and discovery and nonsense that my kids bring into my life. I hope you are doing well, too.

  10. Loafingstone
    Posted November 16, 2021 at 1:10 PM | Permalink

    My children bring me so much joy by finding the humour in the simple things, the ridiculous and the plain silly. We watched Wallace and Gromit in “The Wrong Trousers” recently and their reaction to seeing it for the first time was amazing. Sharing their joy and laughter really helps to remind me what is important.

    I’m glad your kids bring you such joy Pat. Cherish it and enjoy every moment.

  11. Spiff
    Posted November 16, 2021 at 2:37 PM | Permalink

    This monstrosity, though slightly disturbing, speaks to my soul; bringing me joy. Your son is an arteest. Please let him know he made a random person’s day brighter with his art ?

  12. A2
    Posted November 16, 2021 at 3:27 PM | Permalink

    Not that you particularly need to hear this, but you’re a good person, PR.

    You’ve made my corner of the world just a little bit brighter for over 10 years now, and even checking out your blog once in a while helps that candle burn with light.

    Always in your corner,
    A2

  13. Posted November 16, 2021 at 9:21 PM | Permalink

    I used to do that all the time when I was a kid! We had a cartoonist come into the school, and so I taught myself how to create comics with MS Paint… Then an Animorphs website, then graphic design. Thats awesome!

  14. Max
    Posted November 16, 2021 at 11:08 PM | Permalink

    I often find it helpful to remember my insignificance. That great scene from Grand Canyon comes to mind, in which Danny Glover’s character reflects how small humanity is when measured on a geological timescale.

    And speaking of comforting futility, there’s also a game that always reminds me, in the best way possible, that misinterpretation is inevitable. I’ve heard it called Telestrations and Telepictionary. There’s apparently now an online version: Drawception.

  15. Excelrn
    Posted November 17, 2021 at 12:50 PM | Permalink

    Alas, my 4 kids are grown and having their own…. so I get to enjoy the artistry of grandkids, nieces and nephews, AND the ongoing efforts of my kids (in their own ways). ?
    Your writing is always inspiring.

  16. Steven M.
    Posted November 19, 2021 at 2:00 PM | Permalink

    Children truly help keep us young at heart.

  17. Janie
    Posted November 21, 2021 at 11:45 AM | Permalink

    This *is* art! Not nonsense, not lacking in meaning. Look at all the meaning Cutie’s dad teased out of it. It made him (us) feel things and think things in reaction to it. If that’s not art, then I give up on art. Bravo, Cutie! Bravo, young sir.

  18. Posted November 21, 2021 at 3:26 PM | Permalink

    Aye, youngsters are great! And uninhibited.
    My 4 year old granddaughter is both uninhibited and self assured. She recently interrupted my explanation on how chocolate is made with “no gaffer (my callsign here at home), chocolate comes from chocolate chips”.

  19. Owen
    Posted November 22, 2021 at 10:06 AM | Permalink

    Thank you so much for sharing.

    Life has been really rough lately, and this absurdity brought out the giggles in me as I remembered my daughters’ childhoods.

    Sitting here, alone in my office, I began to weep. And then the tears became a torrent as the floodgates drew wide.

    I needed this.

    Again, thank you.

  20. Cinder
    Posted November 25, 2021 at 3:07 AM | Permalink

    Me alegro de ver que estás bien y con tu familia, es una delicia que su obra y usted llegara a mi vida.

    Un saludo

    PD: Alguien ha estado cantando canciones que …

  21. Aman
    Posted November 26, 2021 at 12:03 PM | Permalink

    World seems to be so familiar at this age, yet sometimes there happens something that just asks you to look closer. And smile eventually. Some like to think that money buy it, but the best things grow without them and only when the time is right. Greetings from Slovakia.

  22. Josh
    Posted December 6, 2021 at 6:10 PM | Permalink

    Lol, tell your son to keep up the good work, the eyes will tell, ^_^. My first thought upon seeing it was Raistlin, the eyes beyond the norm, even hungrier than the mouth(which does look fairly hungry). Have no kids of my own at 34, but if not for their ever imagination, we as adults would be lost.

  23. Posted March 14, 2023 at 10:49 PM | Permalink

    Enjoy drifting & driving awesome cars.

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