Trying to explain where we're going and who we will see...

"..and your cousin, Evie... Remember her?"

"No... I don 'member her. Can you membery her to me?"

"Well, let's see. You haven't seen her in a really long time. I think the last time you saw her was when we went to go pick up Aunt Susi and Violet, remember that? So they could live near us in Virginia? And then we drove a longlong time in the car... Remember?"

"No... why did we pick up Aunt Susi? Why did she come to our house?"

"Well, Uncle Ben was going farfar away to fight in a war, so we brought her and Violet here so we could keep them company and they wouldn't be lonely for him."

*awestruck*

"Uncle Ben is a WORRIOR??"

"Well, yes, he's a soldier."

"Ooooooh... But..but... but why do they be lonely for him?"

"Wouldn't you be lonely if Daddy went farfar away for a longlong time?"

*long conversation about all the things he would miss Daddy for*

"But I don't be lonely for Daddy when he goes to work for a longlong time... *contemplative pause* But going away to a war is differnt."

"Yes, it is."

"Why is it differnt, Mama? Because he might not come back?"

"Yes. He might not come back."

Why, Mama?"

"Well, in a war he might get hurt... or killed."

*disbelief*

"Not DADDY. He's da shtrongest worrior! He can cut off, like... three guys heads at da same time! He has sich a looong sword!"



If only I could remember more of the conversation. I wish I could just follow him around all day with a recorder...