My daughter Julia came to live with me two years ago for school. It isn't easy for me to raise someone who is practically my nine-year-old clone, but that is exactly what I find I am doing with Julia. Through our judo and soccer practices, reading, writing and arithmetic, Girl Scouts, and Japanese language classes, we occasionally have a conversation that connects us both in a sometimes deep and usually humorous way. Hopefully, you will be as entertained as we are.

I Am!

Julia is now getting into school-mode, which means a return to her school bed time.  It’s 2:30 in the morning, and it has begun to lightning and thunder, with a huge downpour of rain. Julia appears at the living room door holding her cat. Daddy is working on the computer…

Daddy: (chuckle) Is Bela the Cat afraid of the thunder?

Julia: No, I’m afraid of the thunder!