Conversation with Allie and Daddy on the couch in St Helens, Oregon, November 5, 2008... Images of last night's celebrations are on the laptop on the coffee table.
Allie: Daddy, who are those people?
Allie's Daddy: They're pictures of people who are happy that we have a new president.
A: Why are they happy?
D: Because the old president wasn't very nice.
A: I like the old president. Because he was president when I was sleepy. (Hey, I said this was a three year old, right?)
D: But the old president wanted to take mommy and daddy's money and give it to his friends.
A: Why?
D: Because he thought they deserved it more than we did, even though they already have lots of money already.
A: He didn't want to share and wanted to take our money?
(pause)
A: It's good to share.
D: Yes, Allie, it's good to share. Especially with people who have less than you.
A: Like the people that mommy helps?
D: Yes, like the people with no homes that mommy helps.
A: Will the people that mommy helps move in to the new house now? (There's a massive 3 story McMansion going up in our neighborhood of 1920's small homes.)
D: Maybe someday some of them can move in to the new house. Did you know our new president is the first black man ever to be president?
A: What's a black man?
D: See how his skin is darker than yours?
A: Is he like Grandpa?
D: No, Grandpa's a fisherman and spends a lot of time outside. It's more like Diego.
A: Oh, OK. I like Diego. Can we play hide and seek now?