antidisestablishmentarianism... and stuff.
the best conversational exchange i've had in weeks took place today, when i called my friend jane, and spent a few minutes talking to her nine-year-old daughter, madeline.
me: so, anything exciting happening at the cramer house?
maddie: oh, yes. today i learned how to spell "antidisestablishmentarianism," and i learned what it used to mean, and what it means now.
i just adore this precocious, serious, loving little girl. evidently, she woke up bent on learning what the longest word in the world was, but ultimately had to settle for (as she put it) "ONE of the longest words in the english language." the fact that she considered this the most exciting thing that had happened all week made me grin until i practically split my face.
madeline's little brother ethan, age six, is also a marvelous young person. when i asked him what he did during his first day of kindergarten, he said, "things... and stuff."
me: so, anything exciting happening at the cramer house?
maddie: oh, yes. today i learned how to spell "antidisestablishmentarianism," and i learned what it used to mean, and what it means now.
i just adore this precocious, serious, loving little girl. evidently, she woke up bent on learning what the longest word in the world was, but ultimately had to settle for (as she put it) "ONE of the longest words in the english language." the fact that she considered this the most exciting thing that had happened all week made me grin until i practically split my face.
madeline's little brother ethan, age six, is also a marvelous young person. when i asked him what he did during his first day of kindergarten, he said, "things... and stuff."