Liam's interest in death continues. He likes to ask me questions about pictures in the newspaper (I don't always answer honestly), and the other day there were some cartoon drawings of various historical figures. It didn't seem like a morbid article - it was about health & exercise habits of great people. He pointed to a picture of George Washington.
L: Who is that?
Me: George Washington. He was the first President of the United States. He also liked to play ball with his soldiers, according to this.
L: So. Is he alive?
Me: Well, he lived a long, long, long time ago.
L: So. He's dead. Why did he die?
Me: Yeah....ummm..I'm not sure.
L: Who is this?
Me: That's Abraham Lincoln. He was also a President a long time ago. It says here he used to be a wrestler. Isn't that interesting?
L: He's dead too?
Me: Uh...yeah.
L: Who is this? (Pointing to Susan B Anthony)
Me: Do you want me to read you the cartoons? (He loves those, even though he doesn't get the jokes).
It's funny, it never occurred to me before to think that History was a morbid subject. It seems so right at the moment though.
2 comments:
Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures by Vincent Lam
Strangely enough I know waht happened to George washington. A year or so after he stepped down from his second term and returned to live the life he loved at Mount vernon he came down with a serious cold. The doctors came and "applied" the medicine of the time: blood letting and inducing diahrrea. He died of the cure. A very sad ending to his life...
Not that Liam needs to know...
Peg
Very interesting! I don't think I will explain this to Liam yet, but I bet he would find it very fascniating indeed! I just don't need him worrying about dying from diarrhea the next time he is sick. :-)
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