Best friends

Christine Lavin has a song, the title of which I forget, about babysitting a friend's child and being overwhelmed with happiness and gratitude when the little girl affectionately tells her at bedtime, "Today was the best day of my whole entire life." Proud of her babysitting prowess, she reports the comment to the parents when they come home, only to have them laugh and respond, "Katie says the same thing every day." I don't remember the rest of the song, but I do recall that Christine Lavin doesn't allow for the fact that Katie might be telling the truth: Maybe her life is a string of wonderful days, every one better than the one before.

Edith's friends stand to experience a similar letdown these days if they, too, understand superlatives like an adult rather than like a two year old. The day before Father's Day, Edith came out with, "Daddy's my best friend," thrilling both her parents with that sweet and well-timed pronouncement. But a few days later it was "Mommy, you my best friend." Then in the car this weekend, "Santiago my best friend," followed quickly by "Harry my best friend."

We're going to allow for the possibility that Edith is not being either mercurial, ingratiating or calculating but that perhaps, in the world of a two year old, there is no limit to the number of best friends one can have.

Edith sends Uncle Peewee off to Siberia for the summer with a tickle and a joke
(uh, just like the Communists used to do...)

Father's Day
(If it looks too Hallmark to be believed, know that it actually wasn't posed)

Edith and cousin Santiago share a moment of contentment after a long day of playing

Edith and neighbor Annabeth head home from the pool