KAYA TICKLES THE PLUM TREE

The twins Mitsuki and Miasa, whom I finally got to see when we all went to the beach the other day, are now 18 months old, even more indistinguishable and cute as a basket of buttons. They are presently being devoured by their other grandparents, while Kaya has been staying with us for the past few days. Nearing 5, she is quite grown up, makes her own necklaces and is passionate for pink. She also cleans up after herself, which is most remarkable. Surely she didn’t get that gene from me?

This morning when we were out on the deck, she reached over the railing in the new grownupness of her long arms and tickled the plum tree (beyond her reach not long ago, when she was small). It might have been a slight breeze, but I tell you the plum tree shivered with delight; never been tickled before, I'll bet.