I have no memory for anything else, but I remember every person I talk to online or who comments here. I remember names, sites, tidbits, favorite foods and children and pets and jobs. I really, genuinely care about all of you, and I love hearing about your lives. I am thrilled when I find out you’re pregnant or get a promotion. I anxiously await moves or new homes. I mourn with you when you experience loss. And I am more than willing to help you in any way I can.

One of my readers, Colleen, has a 5-year-old daughter who is fighting a malignant brain tumor. Her name is Ellie. She is doing well despite the prognosis: 95% of the tumor was removed successfully, and she is now undergoing radiation and chemotherapy with the good doctors at St. Jude’s. Ellie’s favorite thing right now is to receive cards from friends. Elias, Addie, and I will be making some this week to send her, and I really want to encourage you all to do it, too. I know there are SO many kind-hearted people on here, and it only takes a few minutes out of your day to write down a message to Ellie and drop it in the mailbox. It would bring some happiness to a really wonderful little girl, and it never hurts to put good karma out there.

You can send cards to:

Ellie Bouchard

Target House 1 – Room 404

1811 Poplar Avenue

Memphis, TN 38104

There’s more information about Ellie on her mother’s website. Thank you all in advance for your generosity and support.

OKAY. Onto the far-less-important happenings around here.

Elias is going to his first sleepover tomorrow night. Philip has been waiting for school to be out, because that was his mother’s stipulation about said sleepover. Eli is pretty calm about the entire thing. “There’s no reason to be scared,” I told him today while we were cleaning, and he frowned, “Why would I be scared? They’re going to feed me, right?”

“Yes, of course. It’s just sometimes kids are afraid when they’re away from home. But you don’t need to be.”

“Okay,” Elias agreed, and went back to playing with his Star Wars figures. Well. Okay, then.

I figured while he’s gone having boy time, I’ll have girl time with Addie. Maybe I’ll buy ice cream, and we’ll paint toenails and watch movies together. I think it would be nice to carve out some bonding for the two of us.

Chris is coming tomorrow, too! I almost forgot! He’s stopping by for a job interview. I’ll probably only see him for a few minutes– we need to trade items: he forgot his glasses last time, and I forgot to get Ikea screws he was delivering. If you have any more good karma in you, cross your fingers for Chris. I’m really hoping they get down here by the end of the summer.

The only other things of note are Eli’s awesome quotes lately. The first happened when he told me he had a girlfriend.

“You DO?” We were making breakfast. He was holding onto my leg, hugging it, giddy. “What’s she like?”

“She’s older,” he answered. “She’s 11.”

“11? Woah, that’s a lot older.”

“Oh yeah,” Elias sighed happily. “I don’t see her all the time, but when I do, I like her.”

“Well, what does she look like?”

He thought for a minute: “She has a head– two legs… a shirt… and arms.”

BWAHAHAHAHA. That is STILL cracking me up. I found out later it was the oldest of the three girls who lives across the street. (She isn’t really his girlfriend. He mostly gets to sit next to her on the curb, and she listens patiently while he talks about ninjas.) She is a total doll– both looks and personality wise– so way to go, Eli. You have good taste.

The other quote I wasn’t sure I was going to mention, but this was SO perfectly Addie and Eli, and this punchline was one of my favorites ever. I can’t resist. Two days ago, I bought a toddler pool and set it up in the backyard. They swam. They came in for lunch and stripped off their suits. So now I have two stark naked kids in the kitchen. Addie suddenly noticed Eli’s Boy Bits.

“woah,” she gasped. “i can share it?”

Eli looked at her Girl Parts and scoffed, dismissive: “FORGET IT ADDIE. You already lost yours.”