Dears,

I asked my son David, age 8, what I should wear when I’m doing book readings and signings for Brain in a Jar. He was very, very adamant in his response.

“YOU MUST WEAR A BIG INTIMIDATING BRAIN COSTUME!” 

“David, I was thinking along the lines of a pantsuit or dress.”

“NO, MOM, YOU MUST WEAR A BIG INTIMIDATING BRAIN COSTUME!” 

My son has been living this story right along with me, so his vitriolic suggestion comes from experience with the book.

A big brain costume I can understand. But an intimidating one? What’s that about? To me, his grandfather was the definition of intimidating. Did David pick up on that, too, or was he misusing the word?

I had to ask.

“David, what does intimidating mean?”

“That people will like you a lot.”

Okay, then, it’s settled. I’ll be the one in a big intimidating brain costume.

Love,

Me