Last night I got to see my my daughter for the first time in a year.

It was a combination birthday/Christmas visit.

They arrived in New York last night, and the four of use went out for a family dinner.

My daughter and I sat one side of the table, and totally goofed on our husbands.  It’s one of our favorite shared activities.

We also goofed on our totally clueless waiter.  The man was an Italian version of Mr. Magoo. 

Afterwards my husband went to work, and the kids went to Rockefeller Center.

I went home to get some things ready for her to take back to MA.

She has a china cabinet now, so I gave her some Wedgewood I bought at an auction years ago.  It’s a very old-fashioned looking, white with a small blue and red flower pattern.

They were back at about 1:30 am, and we loaded up the car trunk.  

It’s was great to see her, and they’ll be back for her 25th birthday in April.

I have to laugh when I think about her talking about “hitting the quarter of a century mark,” and “thirty coming up quick behind it.”

I say “Try 46 kiddo, and get back to me.”

This morning the mail carrier arrived with the usual junk mail, and a cloth-wrapped package covered with dozens of colorful stamps.

A birthday gift from Heart!

The wrapping was cut off the box carefully, so it could be saved in one piece.

Inside I found hand-made treasures from his travels, a beautiful card and Winnie-the-Pooh stickers.

I have to tell you it’s four days till my official birthday, and I’m lovin’46.