Jack’s best friend Rebecca got married last summer.  She had a gorgeous dress, shorter than the tradition style, and made especially so that she could ride in the sidecar of the motorcyle that her soon-to-be-husband was riding.  They’re big into bikes.  And that’s about all I can say about it, because I know nothing about motorcycles.  Even though we have a Harley.  Every time I mention it to someone, I have to ask Jack what kind it is again.  I can never remember.  Jack loves big, loud bikes.  I know that much.

Rebecca rides crotch rockets, which is a whole other ball game. She and Mike have several between them, and are passionate about them.   She’s got wicked pictures of her cornering on a closed track, her knee so close to the ground that it makes my bones cringe.

And she likes a pretty dress, too.  Which is why she had a whole lot of tulle left over after the wedding.  She sent us a lovely package full of delights for each of us.  Matcha tea for Jack.  Wooden animals for Hawk.  A wallet with sparrows on it for me.  And a bug book & identifier kit, complete with a mini magnifying glass for Esmé.  Which she loves.  The bug box is home to the spring’s first snail and caterpillar right now, which Esmé is ecstatic about.

What the kids loved the most about the package was the package itself, and the generous length of tulle tucked around the presents inside.  Esmé was in charge of actually opening the box, which was papered and taped secrurely.  It took about half an hour of working with her scissors and experimenting with various cuts and rips to get into it.

The first thing she pulled out was the tulle.

And the rest of it was forgotten for a good long time, while she and Hawk had fun with the soft, white material.  Esmé immediately took her scissors to it, and then fashioned it into various capes, hoods, wings, gowns, ghosts, bodies of water, magical dust, fairy powers and a rope for rappelling off the orange chair.

As for the woman who sent it to her, I love that we can point to Rebecca as Esmé grows up and looks to the women she has in her life.  I love that Rebecca is the woman who is a daring and ace motorcycle rider, and the woman who appreciates what a length of tulle can add to an outfit.  I love that she is the woman who sends Esmé the tulle and the bug box.  Equal parts sparkle and grit.

Esmé takes after her that way, which I think is awesome.