John Lennon continues to run up his transcendent total on this list versus his supposed "rival" Paul McCartney...

Note: I do love Paul.

There is a lot of fun in parenting. It's fun because it is so, so difficult and thoroughly, inescapably creative. The first years with your child are what I resolutely and respectfully think of as "soul orientation." You are not helping a child take steps - you are are hoping you help them find and trust in the love and vision for which the steps are taken, and the physical milestones are the flowers on the nurtured branches. It is a daily, hourly metamorphosis to take part in. (And it alters you in return.)

It's fun because you have to try so hard to find simple ways of explaining great lessons, lessons of happiness, lessons of meaning, lessons that are not arrogant or self-righteous or blind but build pride.

I have been playing "Instant Karma!" for Julian and Xavier for a while. Once they were able to understand, we listened to the words of this chorus.

"We all shine on like the moon and the stars and the sun."

We make little comments about it. We talk about the moon and the stars and the sun, how cool they are. We talk about the ways we are cool. We talk about what our planet and bodies are made of, matter born in our universe, just like the moon and the stars and the sun.

Sometimes the best "soul orientation" is simply orientation. Know the amazing things we are connected to. Physical reality is its own magic.

It helps when the melody is sweet.