Emma's Birthday

Today is my niece Emma Burtin's first birthday. She is the first child and the only grandchild to both sides of her parents' families. The Burtins threw a big birthday luncheon banquet in Sunnyvale. This was a shindig by invitations only. An nine-course sumptuous meal and birthday cake were served to 80+ relatives and friends.

At my table, I met some hi-tech colleagues of the Burtins and the family's attorney-friend of 40 years, "RC". I practically spent the entire meal talking with a grandmother from Cleveland, Ohio, who went by an uncommon name of "Marose".

It was not all that sunny to and from the party though. Relatively speaking, we Californians are now in the winter of our discontent. This, too, shall pass. Weather wise, we will gripe about something else soon enough.

The childhood season is brief, Emma. May you always carry this precious time with you as you grow. With it, you'll always be young at heart.