I promised to make my kids a few minnow-catching nets this summer.

“How do you make them?” my daughter asked.

“Clothes hangers and pantyhose.”

“What are pantyhose?”

“Nylons.”

“What are nylons?”

And then I realized the best benefit to the writing life: I never, ever have to wear nylons. My daughter doesn’t even know what they are.

I love that.