When I found out that the 365 Toys' theme this week was "farewell" because they are folding up shop as the "Toys on 365" group, I knew it wouldn't be easy telling the dinosaurs. They (and to be honest, me too) have been having so much fun playing with the Toys and having photo shoots for the weekly theme. I stalled for a couple of days, but I figured if we were going to play this last official Toys week, we'd better do it while the camera is working (fingers crossed it will continue). Most of them took it reasonably well when I explained that we could still see many of the toys on individual projects, they just weren't going to be hosting the weekly play group as before.
The Dimetrodon, however, was inconsolable. I think he's really been coming into his own sense of self and gained a lot more confidence since being included in more of the photos. To try to distract him from his distraught state, I let him come up with the photo this week. It didn't really cheer him up at all, he was more interested in making sure he had a ready supply of tissues at hand, in case he started crying again, than in coordinating the others or helping me with the editing. "Farewell to the Good Times" is all his. I thought it was overly dramatic, but let it stand, rather than argue with him. When we took the photo I sent the Rhamphorhynchus up onto the tissue box to make sure the Dimetrodon didn't fall and hurt himself.
I piqued the interest of a number of the dinosaurs when I assured them we wouldn't stop having photo shoots, and now that the 365 Toys weren't coming up with weekly themes, they could go online to the fun calendar web sites and find their own things to celebrate. And we could always consult the 365 monthly list of words for each day. I appointed the Rhamphorhynchus (who as some of you may recall needs more work on his reading skills) head of the photo themes committee. Serving with him are the Plesiosaurus, the Stegosaurus, one of the Apatosaurus youngsters, and the Neanderthal Man (for his generally level-headed judgement and reasoning.)
I think the Dimetrodon will come around eventually, though I may have to get him the pirate hat he wanted so badly back in June.
