My friend Kathryn and I had a plan to take her baby, Hudson, to the Governor’s Mansion for the Holiday Open House. I’m a sucker for all things Christmas and was very excited! Despite the rain, stroller discrimination, and the need to parallel park (way to go, Kathryn!), we made it to the event and walked in to the mansion to be greeted by sooooo many people crammed into a roped off lobby. It was beautiful and the carolers were carolling their hearts out, but we were all, including Hudson, done with the experience after about 15 minutes.
Not ready to call it a day, we decided to hit the Knights of the Black Flag exhibit I had been longing to visit at the NC Museum of History. Hudson, at just 13 weeks, was very into the idea, in my opinion. I think he might have said, “I’m ready for a swashbuckling good time.” Maybe.
Now let me back up for just a second. Upon arriving at Kathryn’s pre-departure, we exchanged Christmas gifts. Much to my delight, Kathryn had given me The Pirate Primer: Mastering the Language of Swashbucklers and Rogues. That’s right, my very own guide to Pirate Speak. It seemed suiting that we should end up at the exhibit where I could try all my new seawoman’s vernacular on Hudson. He really, really dug it when Mommy or “Aunt” Jenna told him, “Aaargh, you’re a salty dog!” After first infusing Pirate-love into my niece, Adelaide’s, heart on International Talk Like a Pirate Day and now Hudson’s little head, I’m pretty sure my new purpose is to spread Pirate Awareness to all those under the age of 5.
Arrgh - Me wench aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge
The exhibit was so well done, curated perfectly to provide a mixture of art, artifacts, history, and interaction. The exhibit was an experience, rather than just a show and tell, which always pulls at my Art Historian heart in the best of ways. I may have been coaxed into putting on the pirate garb and posing for a few photo opps on the pirate ship. I may have.
After we had our fill of Pirate lore, our belly’s were growling so off to Cafe Carolina for some grub. Great day, good friends, and that’s all there is of it.
I’ll be done with my babble for now, but hear ye, I will return, savvy?
