The Fishers in La Paz, Bolivia

“I’m tired like an astronaut.”

“Do bugs toot?”

“Mom, I really need some ale right now!” (This was said at 4:15 in the morning after waking me out of a deep sleep. I wasn’t sure what she was saying at first, but then I realized she meant aloe. She had a sunburn and we had put aloe on it right before she went to sleep.)

“I want to wear my jump rope tomorrow.” (She meant jumper.)

“Oh, smash that!” (She meant “Scratch that!”)

I have been trying to teach her to touch things more gently, to “pat”. One morning this week she said to me, “Don’t worry, Mom. When I’m at school today, I’m going to tap!”