Erin K. Rice

Yesterday, my 13-year-old daughter asked me why spearmint is called spearmint. I suggested it was because the leaves are shaped like spears. She suggested that was too simple. Well...I was right. I looked it up, and I was right.

I haven't told her yet because, as I believe I mentioned, she is 13 years old and it's only 8:32 a.m. on a holiday morning.

The lesson for my daughter is, "Listen to your mother."

The lesson for me is a reminder that sometimes the simple answer is the right answer. I try too hard when I'm writing, sometimes. I try too hard to be clever or to make a point. I have to remember to let the characters do some of that work. (God, they can be so lazy, those characters.)