My daughter Luna likes to climb high in the Banyan tree in our back yard and belt out self-crafted tunes that are a mix of Sarah Brightman and Ethel Merman. The tree seems to camouflage her normal shyness and the songs get louder as the usual hour-long concert ticks by. She is 10 years old now and just became qualified to wear deodorant about two months ago. She stopped wearing skirts and dresses a year ago because they are a hindrance for climbing trees, and running after the chickens. Climbing down from the tree, Luna opens her plastic tub labeled “chicken accessories” and selects from an assortment of fabric and trim remnants with a few gemstones – to indulge the only girly interest she has in fashion – dressing chickens. We are supplied with spontaneous fashion shows when inspiration hits, and megabytes on my computer of images documenting the spring, summer and fall poultry collections that clucked down the runway. Below is Penguin the roosters Halloween costume, he was a stallion. What the picture does not show is the gecko in the saddel "cup" who is riding this amazing steed.

Penguin was just one of the 5 chickens in costume that day.

One day last spring when I came upon her with my little point and shoot camera, I asked her “Luna, what are you dong?” She replied “I am taking pictures of the chickens so I can remember what a wonderful childhood I had”.  The moment distilled in my mind the pile of tossed efforts I had made to insure her “happy childhood”. The dance lessons, art lessons, and the two ponies I bought for she and her brother. I grew up in with horses and assumed by genetic providence my children would also require them. After two years of hay burning lawn ornaments, the ponies were sold. When they were loaded up by their new owner to be driven away – I was the only one in the driveway waving tearfully. The kids were playing with their free chickens they had found, too busy, too happy, to say good-bye.

Oddly Luna was the only Avatar person on our block for Halloween - and I had been worried she'd feel so generic this Halloween.