“Hello,
My name is Squeak, and I am make out of what appears to be a dingy sock. In reality, I am made out of a used-but-laundered sock, and this photograph of me is terrible. I have two buttons for eyes and I am generally in a good mood. Mary wanted an image of a puppet in this post but didn’t want to use a photo for which she’d need permission. She found me on Wiki Commons, so there you go.
I’ve been employed by Mary — she’s paying me in compliments — for what she says is, “a terrible, terrible situation, Squeaks.” She was shaking her head and looking at her taxes when she said that.
What are taxes?
Anyway, Mary wants me to tell you to “hang in there, comrades.” Mary told me to make sure to tell you she is not a communist, but she likes calling a group of people she loves “comrades” because it’s ironic.
What’s irony?
Anyway, I was sent to tell you that she’s not neglecting PaperGirl, she just totally in the weeds and can’t get on top of the fires. Fires, weeds. I don’t know. She’s sorry she’s been a little sporadic, she’s sorry she ate jumbo marshmallows for breakfast again…what else. Hang on, I have notes. (Rifles through notes using head.) Oh, here: she’s still in love, her kitchen is amazing, all she wants is to curl up with a good book and some tea, and she’s got lots of funny stories to tell but first she has to file her taxes, shoot 26 episodes of Quilty this weekend, finish one issue of the magazine and get the next one caught up, pitch a new show, possibly write new manuscript by mid-April and send wardrobe to Iowa for PBS taping in a week. And she’s teaching in Cleveland before Iowa. And she has to finish a quilt. And she’s going to miss Yuri terribly when he goes back home to NYC tomorrow.
There’s one note down here. She says, “My heart and soul come together on paper and on PaperGirl. I’m never far away.” (He shrugs.)
See Ya,
SQUEAKS
Andres
slacker
Kitty
Hi Squeaks!
Thank you for passing on the message! Would you kindly pass on big hugs from me to poor Mary?
When you are that close to her and since you’re able to shrug, would you try to shrug off some of the nasty weeds she’s been caught in?
Kate Lang
No worries, Mary. Do what you need to do. I’ve got 45 days until graduation as a chem major, and in that time I have to present my research thrice- and I’m still collecting data. And I haven’t even mentioned the exit exams. We’ll just meet back here when things settle, mmkay?
Susan Davies
Could you post a picture of Yuri? I’m sorry about all of your painful medical problems but I enjoy your blog.
Mary Fons
Susan, you’re so sweet to wonder what Yuri looks like. I think I’ll keep his identity a secret for now, but… He’s exceptionally handsome, he’s younger than I am, and he’s got really great teeth. And he’s slightly taller than me; I’m 5’7 1/2. 🙂
Willie
Thank you Squeaks, and thank you, as always, Mary for your words and use of puppets.
Becky M
Wowsa! That’s a lot. don’t forget to take care of yourself during all the chaos!