Average Jane Goes To A Birthday Party

Today is my niece's eighth birthday. One of these days I need to post a photo of us together because she is my mini-me, except that she has pink and purple streaks in her hair as opposed to the blue streaks in mine.

Starting last Christmas, I decided that my job as a cool aunt was to get her interested in something unusual that her friends probably wouldn't know about. My choice: children's anime movies.

I started her out with a DVD of My Neighbor Totoro (dubbed, of course), which I'm pretty sure I liked as much as she did. We've watched it together three times now and she's watched it on her own, too.

One of her birthday presents is a stuffed Totoro similar to the one pictured, except that the one I got her is more greenish and has a leaf on its head (as well it should).

The last time we watched the movie together, we ended up seeing a long preview reel of other Studio Ghibli movies that didn't come up on my DVD player for some reason. I could tell that my niece was intrigued by the other films, so I ordered a copy of Kiki's Delivery Service as her second birthday gift.

We're going out to dinner tonight at a Japanese steakhouse (her choice because she loves shrimp). I have to admit, I'm kinda hoping we have time to watch the movie afterward...

Comments

[super des]

I heart Totoro. I used to have one that sat in my car on the dashboard, suction cupped to the windshield. I also have a teacup a friend brought back from Japan.

You are making your niece very cool indeed.

[LuAnn]

Happy Birthday to your lovely niece.

[meg]

you are a super cool aunt, in my book. Totoro and Kiki are GREAT films. Keep exploring Studio Ghibli - I'm sure you're going to enjoy what they've got to offer.

[Jennifer H]

You're a very cool aunt.

[Nuke]

That's cool. Your niece should at least grow up to be an interesting individual instead of one of the conformist sheep.

And I didn't look em all up, but the Director who did Totoro did a bunch of family anime.

[Suzanne]

Ah, I aspire to someday be a cool aunt like you. Your niece is so luck!