I love to read, and I recently finished “Catch-22,” which is one of my new favorites. Somehow it manages to be hilarious and tragic at the same time. The hilarity is captured through a continuos stream of absurd events and coversations. Here’s an example from the book (I’ve modified the formatting):
Sanderson: The fish you dream about. Let’s talk about that. It’s always the same kind of fish, isn’t it?
Yossarian: I don’t know. I have trouble recognizing fish.
Sanderson: What does the fish remind you of?
Yossarian: Other fish.
Sanderson: And what do the other fish remind you of?
Yossarian: Other fish.
Sanderson: Do you like fish?
Yossarian: Not especially.
Sanderson: Just why do you have such a morbid aversion to fish?
Yossarian: They’re too bland. And too bony.
Sanderson: That’s a very interesting explanation. But, we’ll soon discover the true reason I suppose. Do you like this particular fish? The one you’re holding in your hand?
Yossarian: I have no feelings about it either way.
Sanderson: Do you dislike the fish? Do you have any hostile or aggressive emotions toward it?
Yossarian: No, not at all. In fact, I rather like the fish.
Sanderson: Then, you do like the fish.
Yossarian. Oh no. I have no feelings toward it either way.
I could go on with the conversation, but I’ll spare you. Especially probably because you’re wondering what the relevance is. As you can see, the conversation (just like many others in the book), is nonsense. And, it reminds me of talking with a three-year-old. Here’s another example (between me and BC on the way home from day care):
BC: What if sharks get out of the water?
Me: Then they get out of the water.
BC: What if sharks bite us?
Me: Then they bite us.
BC: Why we not see lions?
Me: Because lions don’t live around here.
BC: Do lions bite?
Me: Yes, lions bite.
BC: I do ‘nastics? (gymnastics).
Me: No, you don’t do ‘nastics.
BC: What I do?
Me: Nothing.
BC: Did you do ‘nastics?
Me: No, I did ballet.
BC: I watch you do ballet?
Me: No, you weren’t born yet.
BC: How old I was?
Me: You weren’t born yet.
BC: Where I was?
Me: You weren’t born yet.
BC: Aunt LM do ‘nastics?
Me: Yes, Aunt LM did ‘nastics.
BC: Why?
Naturally, this conversation is longer too. I always thought that if one child was talkative, the other would be quiet. This is not the case with BE and BC. They both talk nonstop. And usually it’s a bunch of nonsense. There’s never a moment of quiet at our house!
Shannon Mackie 
As much as these conversations may seem like nonsense to you, they are definately some of the most enjoyable moments of childhood. I know when I have the kids for a given period of time those conversations make me laugh. I hope I will remember them longer than I seem to have remembered my own childrens silly conversations. The one short conversation from BC I still find funny was when he said he recognized a song that was playing and that he remembered it from school when he was eight. I simply accepted that statement, but within seconds he said “I’m not eight, I was just joking”. I love all the things that they come up with.
Thanks for reading, grandma G! And thanks for sharing that story.
Thannk you