Natalie used to do this dramatic thing where she’d hiss the word “Fiaaaaah!” (“Fire!”) while scrunching up her face and framing it with hands (which were formed into claws). Well, the effect is lost in transcription. You had to be there, especially when she was a cute little 4-year-old towhead with blue eyes. I like …

Our dogs will stop at nothing!!!! to destroy Jessica’s plantings. Flowerbed? Dig it up. New lawn? Dig it up. Newer lawn? Refuse to play anywhere else; chase each other relentlessly for eight hours a day until the grass seed is ground to powder. Fence? What fence? Doggie repellent? That’s for city dogs. Flowerbeds strewn with …