'Tis the season to throw tadpoles in the pond, so Alexis and I made a quick trip out to our favorite fish store. And by "quick trip" I mean we drove halfway across town because of course we did. It seems like it doesn't matter where I want to go, it will wind up requiring a couple of tunnels and several bridges to get there.

As we were leaving the store with some tadpoles and a few bonus fish tucked safely in a water-filled bag in the front seat, Alexis and I started to talk. And by "Alexis and I" I mean "Alexis" because Seven. Seven doesn't let other people get a word in edgewise when it's not in the mood to listen. Seven talks and talks and talks and hey! Did you know that there was a kid in Alexis' class who wasn't born in the United States? I did! Because I have heard about it 14,928 times!

I do love her enthusiasm. I do. Even when my ears are ringing.

She jumped from topic to topic, weaving a complicated series of short stories. I listened intently as I drove. Truly. These days Alexis is full of AMAZING one-liners, and I don't want to miss a single one of them. She told me all about how there is a boy in her class who is super fun to hang out with because he tells good jokes. As she gushed and gushed about how great he is, I cringed just a little because OF COURSE I DID. Seven is supposed to think boys have cooties, thank you very much.

I needn't have worried, by the way. She ended that short story by telling me that he's lots of fun, but they can't really be friends because he likes the New England Patriots. "Can you believe that, mom?" she asked with dismay peppering her words.

One smart cookie, that one.

Really, though, the thing I want to remember from that drive and from that long series of short stories that Alexis told back-to-back-to-back has to do with the radio. As we were driving down the road, she commented that it was cool how the radio had played a Subway commercial just as we were passing Subway.

One thing led to another and another and before I knew it, Alexis had decided that when she grows up, she's going to invent a car that tells the radio station where you are so that it can play commercials that are about places near you.

She's a freakin' genius.

And I'm writing it here because when somebody else makes millions off of the idea, I'll be able to prove that it was seven-year old Alexis' idea first.