I don't know how it happened, but I lucked out in the family department...a wonderful wife, two terrific daughters, five super grandkids. I can't imagine it being better than that.
Take Christina, for example. (Not that you can. She's ours and we're not giving her up.) She's smart, beautiful, compassionate, talented, and a totally nifty person. She's a wonderful and supportive wife and a loving and caring mother who is teaching all three of her children to be the best human beings they can possibly be. She loves and respects animals and nature, something that should be a big plus in anybody's book. I've mentioned before how, during the years she worked in a hospital, that she would sit with the dying because no one should die alone.
No matter what challenge has come before her, she faces it with determination and grit -- whether it be getting her black belt in tae kwon do or taking on a difficult career change.
She even has a sense of humor, although it sometimes takes her a minute or so to get a joke. Nonetheless Christina's wit shines through and she is almost always able to land some zingers.
Christina always listens to her mother and always takes her advice (sooner or later).
There are some things that she is not good at. She doesn't like to cook; luckily, her husband does and is a great cook. She has no color sense (something I know she inherited from me); luckily she has her mother and her sister to set her straight.
And there are many things she's getting much better at. I think she's a knockout coach for Jack's soccer team for five-year-olds. I don't know how she juggles everything -- home, work, husband, kids, appointments, animals, trips, the soap business, her sister's health crisis...everything! -- but she does it well. No matter what the environment, Christina is the one you can count on.
It seems like yesterday when she was born, bringing so much extra joy into our lives. That day, I wrote her a letter. It began, "Hello. I love you..." That has not changed. It could never change.
Happy birthday, darling.
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