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.

What’s Happening?

Julia and Daddy have been watching the 1980 Shogun miniseries on DVD in preparation of the Japanese Festival, held Labor Day Weekend at the Missouri Botanical Garden. At times, Daddy is concerned if Julia understands the complexity of the story…

Daddy: Julia, do you understand what just happened? 

Julia: Yep.

(pause) 

Daddy: What just happened?

(pause)

Julia: Sigh. I don’t know.