Addendum

When I said that Edith laughs at jokes simply because we laugh, like someone in the crowd faking that she got the punchline, perhaps I spoke too soon.

Last night at dinner she was trying to maneuver strands of grated cheese into her mouth with some funny sucking action and finger motions that soon had cheese everywhere. As we often do at the table, Tom and I turned our eyes away from her and repeated to each other, "Don't laugh...don't laugh..." while suppressing snorts.

Edith looked at us and did her a-beat-late fake laugh. Then she said, "Funny. Edie. Messy." And faked another laugh. So maybe she does get the joke.

***

Last night on our family dog walk, Edith was full of beans. She yelled and danced and squealed as if trying to bring out the whole neighborhood. I turned to Tom with the unnecessary observation, "Can you say wired?"

To which Edith promptly replied, "Wired."