lyrically gifted

You know how there are all those jokes about alternate song lyrics, the words that people sing for years and years, never knowing that they are way off? "There's a bathroom on the right" is what I always belted out, and my sister always sang, "Every time you go away, you take a piece of meat with you" to another song, conjuring up images of a chick storming out clutching a pork roast. Well, we introduced another not-so-accurate song lyric to our family's collection.

The other night, our crew was seated around our little dining room table, with JAM and Red sitting directly across from each other. We were reveling in the ambiance that only a meal with two children under age three can create, accompanied by a CD of JAM's choice playing in the living room. He had put on a mix-CD that lovely hubby had put together for him years ago, which he entitled, Songs All Kids Should Know. JAM was alternating between putting a few bites in his mouth and singing along throughout the beginning of the meal when Fun, Fun, Fun by The Beach Boys came on. He started to sing the chorus, "And she'll have fun, fun, fun 'til her Daddy takes..." when he stopped and turned to his dad. "What's her dad take away from her?" Before his knowledgeable father could reply, Red leaned forward over her plate and provided the answer instead.

"Her Daddy takes her cheeseburger away! That's what they say!"

Ah yes, to this beef-worshipping toddler, that sounds like the ultimate in party-pooping actions. Take my dolls, take my books, just don't take my ever-loving cheeseburger away, Daddy!


With a newly formed image of a Beach Boys classic,