In August, we took Kina to the planetarium, which shocked and amazed her for reasons of cosmic awareness and planetarium seating. What I thought was that Kina was awed by the scale of the universe, but what she thought was: “Cool light show”.

So yesterday, upon walking through the gates of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden1 for a “light show”, Kina was extremely prepared to hear the reassuring tones of Lupita Nyong’o narrating the birth of the universe, and not—as was actually the case—to see a bunch of LED-lit trees. With that now in mind, I understand why she strolled casually past the laser light show over the pond at the Japanese Garden and dismissed the fancy glowing fountains by the conservatory building. On she trudged past fields of dancing pixels and giant glowing peonies, thoroughly unimpressed.

At one point, she spotted an Instagram-famous arch of white lights in the distance and began to run towards it, thinking it was the gate to the inevitable planetarium, but was disappointed ultimately to find that it was just a well-photographed arch.

She did find the Totoro-themed cherry walk quite entrancing, but it’s no big bang. Earth is never good enough when you have the cosmos in mind.

I love this Parade. Kina painted it all herself. The only thing she wants you to know is that the two yellow orbs at bottom left are watermelons.

dad