Today is the birthday of my eldest child.

While Shanna had a traumatic, more than day-long birth process (with an Apgar score of 1), she has, thankfully, managed to top the other side of the scale for about every test since then.  A super student. A super employee.  A super manager.   A super wife.  And, a super mom.  She’s traversed her career path with aplomb.  Raleigh-Durham.  Birmingham.  Tuscaloosa (with permission to reside in Cincinnati, while continuing her efforts for the University).  And, now, Philadelphia, although she has left the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOPs) to devote her energy to her own company- Be Yourself Boldly.

And, she has her own website.  And, a sought after speaker.  One quoted in newspapers and magazines.  And, her first book is about to be released.

Let’s not forget that she’s a wife and a mom.   Pretty busy woman.

Yes, I am very proud.  (Not just me- her whole family is- pictured below.)   Not that I had a lot to do with it. An honest parent recognizes that the very best that one can provide is guidance.  It’s the child, and then the adolescent, and finally the adult who develops those attributes that make them stand out.  Oh, sure, it takes a village- but not without the perseverance, talent, and effort of that single individual.

To my little (yes, she will always be little in my eyes) Rose Feather, you will never be considered like Last Year to anyone.

I guess I may need to explain these ‘insider’  jokes.  My daughter’s name is Shoshana Avrah (Rose Feather).  But, it is often shortened to Shanna Avrah (the homonym of those sounds in Hebrew means ‘Last Year’)….

May this birthday bring you all that you need and a bunch of what you want.  You already have the love of your family.

Yom huledet sameach!   (That means happy birthday, if you don’t know Hebrew.)

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