I was on the surface of sleep, that part of slumber where dreams are so close that you find yourself sleep-talking because you can’t tell whether or not your amid the realm of imaginings or the land of the awake. I was on the surface of sleep, so it was at first difficult to tell whether or not my sub-conscious was inventing the ever-so-sweet but slightly mournful call for “Elastigirl?”
It soon became apparent that it was not some asleep apparition that was calling out, but in fact, my three-year-old precious nephew, Thomas, calling longingly into the ubiquitous dark of the Robinson house. I opened my door, and called back to him.
“Dash?” Thomas has recently personified the character from his favorite movie, The Incredibles. I think it’s incredible that his imagination is already so vivid. It’s the kind of imagination I can only have when I am on the surface of sleep.
“Violet?” He calls back before I have a chance to flip on a light. I am flattered that he remembers my voice and deems me worthy of a super hero nickname. I go down to the bottom of the stairs to greet him as he lethargically rubs the sleep out of his drooping eyes. I ask him if I can pick him up and he reaches out to me, conceding and cuddling close to me while he tells me of his desire to see Elastigirl again. I lethargically rub the sleep out of my eyes, more than happy to take my little lovey nephew and pass him off to his parents, my brother and sister, who by all means are Mr. and Mrs. Incredible. I just feel lucky that I get to be part of the process, where I get to see good parenting and a loving family at work. I am excited that I am not yet a mother, but I get to observe examples of how to be one.
I am at an exciting phase of my life where I am about to become something of surrogate parents for three little boys in France. While no blood ties can be established between me and these little boys, it is my hope that if not their big sister, if not their mom, at least I can become their Violet, and maybe I can come back just a little bit more Incredible.