More Rachel sayings

A sample from today:

"The strawberries paraded through the storeroom blowing little horns like this: "Dum dum dum dum," she said at breakfast, pretending to tell me about animated fruit. I thought this would morph into a full-blown story, but unfortunately it didn't.

***

"There needs to be a Hanukkah fairy," Rachel announced at breakfast. "What should her name be?"

"What do YOU think her name should be?" I saied.

"Cheryl," she announced. "And she would have little menorahs coming out of her wand."

***

Today Rachel took my breath away with how grown-up she looked: striped stockings, bright green and blue shoes, a red, blue and green kilt, a brown shirt with tiny pink and white polka dots, and a delicate cream-colored sweater that Mom and Dad had gotten her last year. She had a backpack on and all of a sudden I got one of those flashes that moms everywhere get: My little girl is growing up. I swear she looked like she was 9 or so.

"You're growing up so fast," I said sadly.
"I wish I could," she answered.
"I wish I could what?" I said.
"I would I could stay little, but I can't," she said. "Sorry."

Oh, so am I.