The Oldest 9-Year-Old in the Room

The weekend before Valentine's Day always bring a flurry of activity at our house. Valentines need to be purchased or created, lists made to cross out as valentines are completed, mailboxes to receive valentines from classmates crafted, and so on.

Sunday evening found Lindsey, Marissa and I sitting around the dining room table, making an assembly line of valentines for Marissa's classmates. Lindsey tore the store-bought valentines at the perforated edges, I inserted the tiny tattoo into the tiniest little paper slots you've ever seen, Marissa wrote her name and sealed each with a sticker. It was fun, actually, our little assembly line of hearts.

"I can't believe it's Valentine's Day already," Lindsey announced. "That means it's already February. I've only got three more months left of 4th grade. I can't believe I'm in 4th grade -- it seems like just yesterday I was in 2nd grade."

Good heavens, is this girl's soul already 70?

Later that same evening, we were watching the Grammys. I love the Grammys. Some people get glammed up, others wear the weirdest thing they can possibly concoct, and someone is bound to say something they shouldn't. But the best part are the performances, especially when they bring together a couple of artists who wouldn't normally be paired together.

Alicia Keys and Maroon 5. Sting and Bruno Mars. What awesomeness.

We watched Kelly Clarkson do a tribute to Patti Page and Carole King. While she sang (beautifully, I might add), photos of both of the artists filled the screens behind her, Patti Page in all her classic beauty, Carole King in her casual, messy realness.

Kelly Clarkson performs at the 2013 Grammys, photos of Carole King behind her

Patti Page

"Mommy," Marissa asked. "Are those ladies from the olden days?"

"Depends on what you mean by olden," I say.

"Like when you were a kid," she says.

Lindsey responds. "Marissa, you know, when we grow up, all this," she gestures around the room, "Will be olden days."