While eating tangerines for breakfast today I peel back each seed-containing segment at the seam, and squeeze out the seeds. Then I hand the piece to Mackenzie, who wolfs it down, grinning as colorful juice streams down her chin. This goes on for a tangerine and a half, then she strikes up a conversation with her food. “Hello Seeds, how […]

Me: This is a stable. It is where animals live and it is where baby Jesus was born. Jesus was born in a stable. Do you know where Mackenzie was born? Mackenzie, after pausing to think: In a tortilla.

Mackenzie lined up my iPhone, Scott’s cell phone, and Scott’s iTouch. She picked up each in turn and said the following: “Hello?” “Is Anne Bean.” “Great.” “Goodbye.” And for Scott’s flip phone, she appended a: “Close the door.” After watching her make several rounds of the same conversation on each device, I drew an obvious conclusion: I like to cut […]