Sorry we've been out of touch...

Work and non-work life has been a little hectic these days. Your Faithful Correspondent promises to be, um, more faithful.

Rachel of course continues to be delightful. Her latest thing is to "spell" out letters by using utensils -- forks, knives, spoons -- to make "h" and "a" and so forth. Don't know what we'll do when she gets to "w." Or, for that matter, "i."

Drew has been reading some of the Beatrix Potter books to her lately and it's amazing how, um, British they are. I have to explain every 2nd or 3rd word. And some of the tales are sort of disturbing -- Tom Thumb's temper tantrum and Squirrel Nutkin almost getting skinned by Old Brown, the owl. Rachel, of course, does not appear to be disturbed by any of this.

As you all know, I'm taking a marketing class in the business school on Tuesdays and I sing in chorus on Wednesdays, so for two nights I don't see Rachel at all. We've been missing each other, and tonight we talked about it while we cuddled in her bed.

Me: I miss you when I'm at chorus.
Rachel: I miss you too, but it helps me.
Me: Why?
Rachel: Because I love your singing and I can hear you sing all the way from chorus!

We've been talking a lot about chorus lately -- Drew has promised to bring Rachel to a rehearsal (possibly as soon as next week), and Rachel keeps asking if she'll be able to get on stage "with all the other kids." I haven't had the heart to tell her that it's all grown women and that we'd crash into her while we do our choreography and sing at the same time. Tonight she said again that she wanted to sing on stage with me.

"And Ryan (the director) will be so proud of me that he'll give me a treat!" she said. "Like jellybeans! I love jellybeans!"

I could only laugh.