Wednesday, December 16, 2009


"We’ll take care of each other and we’ll all sleep together in a real pile.”
from the movie Where The Wild Things Are

I was born a bit too early for Maurice Sendak’s delightful book Where The Wild Things Are to be one of my treasured tomes of childhood. But I fell hard for the movie. When the wild things spoke of their love for “sleeping in a pile”, I was enchanted. These oversized creatures, furry and feathered, would all pile on top of each other, and finally, after much squiggling and snuffling around, with everyone comfortably situated, they would sigh a big sigh and sleep the night away - safe, secure, all for one and one for all. From my seat in the theatre with a tear in my eye, I was totally charmed.

And, as we all know well, life so often imitates art....

We had strange night of weather last week, one to make the old-timers look to the sky and shake their heads with a worried look. Winter-rainy and December-cold all the long day long till midnight came round with an eerie stillness. Where had the wind gone? Where was the rain? We heard it first at two am, that sharp whipcrack of thunder. The bedroom was hit with a nanosecond of the white hot glow of lightning. A thunderstorm in December?
Edward, who tolerates storms in daylight but has never been overly fond of lightning in the night, considered it wise to move from his customary spot across my feet at the end of the bed, much closer to the center of things. So, he plopped down between us just as Apple hopped up to take over the feet-warming spot. She settled in immediately, but Edward was still unconvinced that this was the absolute safest place to be and I felt him make his way further up the bed, lie down and sigh his most contented sigh.
A few seconds later I heard the Songwriter laughing and he whispered...”Are you awake?? You have to see this. Edward is sleeping on my head.” Sure enough, the poor Songwriter looked exactly as though he were sporting a polar bear hat, for Edward’s big furry head was resting right atop his own.
More quiet giggles and then....”Hey, we’re Sleeping In A Pile!!”
And do you know, those Wild Things have something. There is indeed a delicious comfort to be found in a pile of sleeping loved ones atop a feather bed in the midst of a strange December thunderstorm.
I can most highly recommend it!

I could eat you up I love you so
from Where The Wild Things Are

43 comments:

  1. Bravo! Beautiful story! We, too, pile up and sleep the night away. Our beloved Sophie becomes my husband's cap of fur upon sensing an approaching thunderstorm.

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  2. Our little dog Kelly, hates even the rain!
    and even storms on tv, we like trillers and fantasymovies and We noticed that it always rain and storms when something is going to happen...
    and my doggie gets terrifed
    she always want to be on top of me
    and is shaking all over her body...
    she shakes so much it makes me nauseous!
    she wants to pile up, but doesn't go to sleep...and neither am I!

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  3. Oh, I love that story! It seems that we sleep in a pile most every night - Daniel and I, plus dog and cat! Hasn't the weather been so strange? We've had thunderstorms and even tornado warnings, which I really found bothersome as I had put our weather radio away for the season... Luckily all was well and now we are getting ready for more rain! Hugs, Silke

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  4. My grown sons took me to see that movie and I too was charmed by it. Happy Holidays!

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  5. Hi Pamela
    You paint a delightful picture with your words of Edward and the sleeping arrangements of a stormy winter night and 'sleeping in a pile'!

    I'm intriqued now to see this movie 'Where The Wild Things Are'. I'll add it to my holiday viewing list.

    Wonderful story...hope you week is delightful xx Julie

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  6. So funny you should say that. I did that pet peeve in Aug. lol I would love for you to take a turn at one of the photos this time. (Explain it to those who do not get what I am talking about.)Please

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  7. Thunder is rare here in Western Oregon and, growing up as I did in Mississippi, I miss it. I don't miss the threat of being struck my lightning though. I once saw lightning hit a tree about 200 feet from where I was standing on my front porch. The flame started at the ground and girdled the trunk upward. Quite a treat, that was. One of those things a person never forgets.

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  8. I so love your blog, Merry Merry Christmas to you and yours.


    http://wwwbeenblogged.blogspot.com/

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  9. I love "Where the wild things are" and look forward to seeing the movie. Had a chuckle over the dog-hat.

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  10. I love how Edward has found a warm and great place to sleep. Very cute. xo

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  11. You do write the most beautiful stories, Pamela.
    When we had our animals (sadly , all are gone now ) we had the same sleeping arrangements.
    I must try and see the film too.
    Have a great week. XXXX

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  12. This is the sweetest story!
    Wish my husband could feel this way... creatures are banned from the bedroom, animals that is...
    If it would be up to me, I love the piling high idea so much...
    Just the kids pile in in the mornings!
    (That is nice too!)
    And: Can't wait to see this movie!

    Holiday XOXO!
    Victoria

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  13. I don't know the book but I must go and see this movie...Are you following my mouse story in the secret garden..I believe this sleeping in a pile is just what the little creatures living there would LOVE..The weather overhere is now calm...very cold but sunny..Last week we had terrible rainstorms and THUNDER..I was home alone when this happened...I really mist my pile;)
    Happy day dear..

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  14. Oh my! This just made me smile and warmed my heart. I could only imagine Edward and Apple and the whole family in a pile. Sooo sweet.
    : )

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  15. I can only think to say "sooo sweet"! Thanks for the warm fuzzy feeling you gave me this morning! I think I will go hug a cat!
    Bella

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  16. This I Know: Pamela, you never disappoint! You're the enchanted storyteller in my book...with the power to take me out of my minimalist mind and away to other places. Gracias!

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  17. Goodness - how amazingly familiar . These Polish Lowland Sheepdogs are such brave creatures. Digby did exactly the same thing during a huge thunderstorm in Provence. Unfortunately, I woke up with a loud ' what the ?' when I felt this thing sleeping on my head . That got everyone up and moving.

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  18. the film is just out here and I'm so excited about seeing it- although I would be very sad if it wasn't good. It looks wonderful from the trailer though *crosses fingers*

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  19. Helo P&E,

    As long as I wasn't on the bottom of it, sleeping in a pile might be fun!

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  20. Your writing is magic Pamela. I love the idea of you all sleeping in a pile. It is a fact that if you have several dogs they prefer to sleep in a pile. We used to have a pug and two cats and they did the same. Lovely post.

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  21. Hi,
    Oh, that's great. I have a nice movie to look forward to :)
    I continue to like both your pictures and all that you write !!

    xo
    Anci

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  22. Lovely post Pamela...'Where The Wild Things Are' is my very favorite kids book. I will definitely be seeing the movie.:)
    Happy Christmas Holidays!

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  23. Sleeping in a pile sounds so snug!!
    I wish my dog wasn't so smelly....

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  24. Lovely image of the songwriters big furry hat! I feel all warm and cosy now! suzie. xxx

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  25. We've had a December thunderstorm too.

    Ok, wasn't going to the movie. Now, I will. And will enjoy it thru your eyes.

    Garden & Be Well, XO Tara

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  26. I'm really looking forward to seeing this film.
    Thanks for a lovely post Pamela :) x

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  27. Great post, and great story! The weather was strange today; yesterday I was freezing cold, and today I was longing to peel off my sweater because I was so hot!

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  28. Pamela, how cozy and happy it must have been, all together in the bed, piled up like that. I am still smiling at your words. And that quote at the bottom is so lovely. Exactly how I feel about my kids. Sometimes I really feel that I could eat them right up! Would you terribly mind if I borrowed it?

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  29. Wonderful! Sounds like a perfect night to me.

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  30. Thanks for reminding us of this great movie and telling us a wonderful story! A hug to E &A !

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  31. I have enjoyed catching up here Pamela, It has been cosy with snuggly thoughts and visually beautiful with Jack Frost as the artist. I have gobbled up book recommendations and will leave happier than when I arrived. As ever I thank you.

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  32. I can completely envision this as our Scottie, Gandolf, and our Chocolate lab, Maggie felt the same way about lightening at night. You could almost set your watch by the length of time it would be before the two of them were on our bed. Maggie with her 98 lbs laying over our legs and Gandolf hudled between us. I can just see Edward on the songwriters head. That made me laugh. Its a good way to start my day. Thanks again. Your stories always make me smile.

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  33. I have not yet seen the film but will now take my beloved up on his offer to take me to see it.

    I miss having cats for the way they curl against you with a determination for their ultimate comfort. :)

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  34. The movie sounds a good bit cozier than the book, but I love the way you blend these two strands of story.

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  35. I love the Wild Things and their take on life and what's important. That last line - I'll eat you up I love you so - has always melted my heart.

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  36. My Dog is 14 years old and is arthritic like me . We Moan together and schelp around in the mornings. He was in the Palm Beach Pound and they were going to put him down. One year old.
    He has lived on 113 acre farm in Maine for 10 years. Now we down sized on the coast.

    Don't you just love DOGS???

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  37. *Where the Wild Things Are* was my oldest son's favorite book. We read it hundreds of times! I can't wait to see this movie!

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  38. oh how sweet, Edward sounds such a sweetie. Anya our rabbit used to jump on my head in the night sometimes...

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  39. I like sleeping in a pile with my cats, as long as they're not on my face, which is sometimes where I find them... I wake up sneezing.

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  40. How amazing Edward responds in the same way as Wilf - it must be a PLS thing. I've never seen other breeds become literally speechless with joy. 'The font' says Wilf looks as if he's had a tipple the way he waddles when suffused with happiness. The two of them are off to play Rugby with the mongeese tomorrow - a great way of making friends with the French - Edward would enjoy it as will Wilf - Apple and Digby probably not.

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  41. Oh you delightful pile of wild things! I'm still chuckling but if does sound very comforting, so very much like three of us and our dog the night of seven after the fire when we all slept on the glass covered laundry florr, the only one that was still intact being a later oncrete addition. We could not close our eyes unless we were all touching. I somehow spread my arms over the three of them - not comfortable but at least comforting.

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I love to read your comments! Each and every one! Though I'm always reading your comments, I may not respond in the comment section. If you want to write me directly, you may do so at pamela@pamelaterry.net. Thank you for reading!