Rachel's thoughts on Mommy going to Africa

The other day Rachel told Drew that "I'm worried Mommy won't be back in time for Hanukkah to sing her special song."

I reassured her later that I would, in fact, be back in time to make latkes, sufganyiot, the whole deal. That made her happy.

***

"Swaziland, Swalizand, Swaziland!" Rachel sang the other day. She is enchanted at the idea of me going there because I mentioned the country -- which is Africa's last absolute monarchy -- has a king and queen. When Rachel wondered whether there were princes and princesses, too, I said probably. She thinks I'll get to meet them all.

"I'm not important enough to meet the king of Swaziland," I told her.

"C'mon, you're a magazine editor!" Rachel said. "That's important!"

If you say so, sweetie.