Susan Senator

This is a day of independence,
For all the Munchkins,
And their descendants.
— Mayor of the Munchkin City, In the County of the Land of Oz

Five years ago, I wrote this piece for the New York Times.
Here’s what happened today while I just sat here drinking my coffee, lazing around with Ned:
Nat came downstairs, dressed and ready for his day.
He greeted us, and went to the freezer and pulled out the bagel bag.
He selected a raisin bagel and put it in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Closed and returned the bagel bag to the freezer.
He took out the (pre-split at Finagle-A-Bagel) bagel and put it in the toaster.
When the toaster popped, Nat got out his bagel, and went for a plate in the glass cabinet.
The stack of plates were topped by a colander (different placement than usual) so he closed the cabinet.
Thought for a moment, then opened the plate drawer in the island.
Went for the butter. Upon opening the butter dish, he noticed it was full of pale yellow smears but no butter.
He went back to the fridge with the butter dish in hand.
He stopped and stared at the open fridge.
At this point I had to practically tie myself down to keep from assisting, but I waited, quietly…
He saw more butter in the cheese drawer.
He noticed that these were half-sticks of butter (different) and so he slid them back into the box.
At this point I called out, “Nat, those are okay butter. They’re just smaller.”
But I guess we all know that half-sticks are just not right. Nat put them back. Undaunted, he peered more closely at the cheese drawer and found the box of regular, proper-length butter.
He unwrapped the butter and put it into the dish, and went for a knife.
He buttered his bagel.
He ate it in a flash.
He threw out the remains, put his plate next to the sink, cleaned up the butter dish and was back on his way.
Never give up, never surrender.