Fundraising night

I'm a board member of the Oregon Area Jewish Committee, and as such I often am called upon to do volunteer things like dialing for dollars, which I did tonight. Amy, the group's development director, graciously offered her 11-year-old daughter, Emily, as babysitting help for Rachel while I made phone calls. Emily's younger sister, Abigail, who has Downs Syndrome, was also there. We got pizza and salad, perfect for Rachel since I worried whether she'd get anything to eat. I also worried about whether she'd have enough to amuse her so I packed a backpack (actually, Drew packed it) full of books and crayons.

I needn't have worried. Rachel was a little shy at first, but then spotted John Moss, the head of OAJC, and after he asked her if she remembered him, she immediately reached out her little arms; he picked her up and she hugged him and cuddled on his lap while I brought her dinner. He had a lovely time talking to her and kept remarking on how beautiful she is and what a great talker. I could tell he was overwhelmed at her outpouring of affection, since he has two adult kids and is at the stage where he would really like grandkids in a few years.

The actual dialing for dollars was painless and didn't take that long. When I finished up, Rachel was happily ensconced in Emily's lap, watching a video on Amy's iPad. She started whining and crying when I said it was time to leave, but stopped pretty quickly when I threated her with no story if she continued. (As partial compensation I gave her half a molasses cookie on the way home). She whined that she was hungry when we got back, and I told her that she couldn't have any more cookies. "How about raspberries?" she said, and I poured a small bowl of the ones I'd picked from our backyard yesterday. Then we read a story, washed and brushed and I cuddled with her a little in bed. She kept trying to keep me from leaving, and I told her it wasn't fair -- all I wanted to do was cuddle and laugh and tickle with her all night but I couldn't because I had things to do. Damn adulthood, it gets in the way of me showing my daughter how much I love her.

Cute Rachel sayings from tonight:

"I'm going to grow up, Mommy," Rachel said.
"No, you're not," I replied. "I won't let  you."
(This has become one of our favorite parlor games).
"Yes, I am," she said.
"Will you visit me once in a while?" I pleaded.
"You can visit me every night!" she responded. "You can babysit my kids!"
"I would LOVE to babysit your kids, Rachel!" I replied.

***

In the car on the way home we were talking about my chorus's performances on Sunday, one of which Rachel will attend (there's a matinee at 2 and an evening show at 7).

"Oh my, and Ryan will love my pink dress!' Rachel said. "I can sing next to you on the risers and hold your hand!"

She truly believes Ryan will "discover" her and make her a star.