There’s a lot of things to accomplish, especially at this time of year–but I’m happy to say there’s a new thing we can cross off our list.

We’ve worked out a plan to prove our identity to each other should one of us be taken by kidnappers or terrorists.

It was Stephanie’s idea. She’s a sophomore in college and has a lot on her mind, what with final exams coming up and all. But she called me the other night and after we finished with our usual topics which involved travel schedules, untenable homework load, food situations, possible health insurance claims, requirements for new pieces of clothing now that the weather has changed, and computer glitches causing unheard-of troubles, we got down to the Real Business: our emergency management plans.

She’d watched a movie recently which got her thinking how she would ever prove to me that she was REALLY Stephanie, should that ever come up.

“Here’s what I’m going to say, Mom,” she told me. “Remember how when I was little and you were putting me to bed, we would always say to each other, ‘I love you a million dinosaurs on a million mountaintops’? If I ever have to prove I’m really me, that’s what I think I’ll use. You’d definitely know that was me.”

You know, a lot of people don’t think of this kind of thing in advance. And I’m relieved I’m not the only person waking up in the middle of the night worrying about such contingencies.