3V1071.07 Confronting the illogical: “I’m not here.” (12/28/80)

This evening, I retreated upstairs to write while Gretchen read a large
collection of library books to Peggy. Later, Peggy called to me
“Dad…Are you up there ?” I replied “No. I’m not here.”

I heard Peggy go into the living room to look for me there then
returned to the dining room. “Mommy,” I called to Daddy and he said,
“I’m not here. I’m taking a bath.”

Significance: Peggy clearly tried very hard to make sense of my joke.
I conclude she has no way of thinking about such a thing as a self-
contradictory statement.

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