Gabe has recently taken a liking to this old beach ball we had floating around. He asked me to blow it up last week and has been playing with it ever since. He especially loves to bounce it back and forth with his Grandpa. It’s a great toy. Inexpensive, easy to catch, won’t break the window.
Yesterday my mom and I were talking about “Ballie Ball” (the name he’s affectionately given his toy). We laughed about it being Gabriel’s “Wilson.”
In case you have no idea who Wilson is: “In the film (Cast Away), Wilson the volleyball serves as Chuck Noland’s personified friend and only companion during the four years that Noland spends alone on a deserted island. “ credit: Wikipedia
At the revelation that the beach ball was Gabriel’s “Wilson,” I jumped up and ran in the house to find a sharpie marker. I came back, took the ball and proceeded to draw a face on it.
Now, this could have gone one of two ways. Gabriel could have gotten pissed in which a major temper tantrum would have ensued. This is almost what I expected as I carefully introduced “Wilson Ballie Ball” to him…
But, instead, he smiled affectionately. He lovingly admired his new friend. He gently kissed it.
Me and my mom bust out laughing our butts off!
Awesome.
Gabriel was (is) in love.
God help me if Wilson get’s a hole.
If Wilson gets a hole and a duct tape bandaid doesn’t resolve the problem,
then maybe cut a circle of cardboard (or use the cardboard circle out of some brands of frozen pizza) and poke a small hole in it close to an edge. Put a hanging string through the hole. Then smash Wilson Ballie Ball flat and glue him to the cardboard, of course back side down, as you’d want his face to show. Then he can be hung in Gabe’s room on the wall. You can tell him that Wilson grew up and no longer bounces, but instead grew into a friend decoration.
This is a very clever idea! Thanks Lauralee!
Dude, if Wilson gets a hole, go buy another one! Gabe has to sleep sometime. You can take half-deflated Wilson away and replace it with all-better Wilson for about $1. With proper planning Wilson can still be around when Gabe graduates college, but hopefully it won’t come to that
You know what? My mom went and bought a bunch of beach balls for a buck “just in case” Wilson got a hole. But they are different than his and he would totally know! I’m just going to stock some vinyl patches.