Rachel wants a sibling

Conversation between Rachel and me in the car on the way to get flu shots on Tuesday:

Rachel: I wish I had a sister.
Me: Why?
Rachel: 'Cause then I could play with her instead of just my toys.
Me (slowly, turning around from the front seat): Well, Rachel, you know that I tried to give you a sibling but it didn't work, right?
Rachel: (nodded).
Me: And besides...you are MORE than enough for us.
Rachel (relief flooding her face): Thanks, Mom.

Hope I handled that OK. It breaks my heart every time she says she wants someone to play with, because there's nothing more I would love than two kids playing with each other every night before dinner. But it didn't happen, and hopefully Rachel will be OK with it when she's older.

***

Totally forgot to mention that I voted in a booth Tuesday, the first time in 15 years. Oregon has vote by mail, and I missed getting a nonpartisan Voters Pamphlet to help me decide what candidates to vote for; the Washington Post doesn't bother with local races so I left one office blank because I truly didn't know about the candidates and didn't feel I could make an informed decision. Sigh.

As I approached the nice elderly woman at the check-in table, she said: "We have new technology." (Turns out you vote onscreen. No more levers to push or ballots to punch with a pencil).
"I'm from Oregon, and we vote by mail," I said smugly. "I haven't been inside a voting booth for 15 years!"

She didn't appear impressed.