It's Never Too Early To Start Thinking About 2038

As is her wont, my eight year old was chatting at/with me this morning as I got dressed. After meandering through the chronology of past and present Orgle Manor pets and glancing briefly on the hot-button issue of a potential dog, we got on to the broader topic of her Future.

"Do you still want to be a vet when you grow up?" I asked, remembering her past enthusiasm.

"No, Daddy, not anymore."

"Oh? Why not?"

"Weeeell," she said, "first you have to get really good grades in college."

"Sure," I replied, "but I should hope you're going to want to do that anyway."

"Weeeell," she said, "but then you have to go to four years of vetinary school."

"True," I replied, "but you'll probably wind up doing some kind of graduate work no matter what career you choose."

"Oh," she said. After chewing on that one for a minute, she said, "Daddy? Can I just get married and raise kids?"

"You can certainly do that," I replied, "but first and foremost you also have to be able to take care of yourself, and that requires learning a skill and getting a job."

"Oh," she said. "Well, can I have kids first and then get a job?"

"I think the best plan would be to go to school, then get a job and then (after you get married of course) think about kids. Like Mom."

"Hmmm."

She thought about it for another minute and then said, "I know! Once I get to be thirty-five, I'll become President! And you can be my Vice President."

"Well, Sweetie, there are laws against people in the same family doing that."

"Oh," she said. "Well then, you can be my Special Advisor. And when I'm President, you can come and live in the White House with me."

"Very well," I said, "it's a deal."

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