More Rachel cuteness

Tonight really was a fabulous evening -- maybe because I haven't really seen Rachel in the last two days, and Drew is in Seattle so it's just Mommy and Rachel -- or because she was in a great mood.

On the way home from school Rachel reminded me of the time a woman ran into Daddy's car. "It was on Halloween," she said. Which is true, and I was absolutely astonished at her memory. Then we talked about how it's terrible to run red lights, that you could hurt someone, and get a ticket. I told her that Daddy would be very upset if I ran a red light and hurt someone.

"He'd be very upset," she agreed. "He'd put you in your room."

***

I was pulling out of the gas station when Rachel said, "When I grow up, I'll call you Lisa."
"No you won't," I said sternly. "You can't ever call me by my first name, even when you grow up."
"Why?"
"Because it's not respectful," I said.
"My children won't either," she said.

"Right," I answered. "Your children won't call you by your first name because I'll tell them they have to respect their mommy."

"Even after you're dead?" Rachel said.

"Yes," I replied. "Rachel, why are you so obsessed with death?"

Pause.

"What does death mean?" she asked.

***

When Rachel has asked me to tell her a story the past few weeks, it has usually been about her friend Tessa who has a birthday in the winter. So I made up a dramatic tale about it snowing on Tessa's birthday but everyone coming to her house anyway and playing in the snow and drinking hot chocolate next to a big fire.

Tonight Rachel said:

"Mommy, tell me a story about my birthday. But not with any scary parts. No storms, no snow...."

I cracked up.