Today begins a new Jewish month- the month of Elul.  (Actually, it is the last day of Av- but it is a new moon, one that traverses two days.  So, the last day of Av and the first day of Elul are celebration as the new moon days..  Also, Elul begins our introspection and review of our lives- so we are ready for the next holidays- The Days of Awe- Rosh Hashana and Yom Kipur (which are in the month of Tishrei).

But, there’s more about today.  My daughter was born on the first day of Rosh Chodesh Elul.  (In the Julian calendar, her birthday is 5 days from now.)  And, Shanna’s first day on this Earth was a bit traumatic- she took way more than a day from the time her mother’s water broke to enter into the world.

It was scary.  Not just because I could fly around the world in less time than she managed to traverse the birth canal.  Not just because my hands were being clenched by my (then) wife with a strength and clawed by nails I never knew she had.  But because my daughter’s APGAR score upon birth was 1.

Thankfully, she has 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.  And, now a super entrepreneur!

She’s managed to traverse 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- first at the University of Pennsylvania and then Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.   And, now the proprietress of the eponymous ShannaHocking.com.

Yes, I am very proud.  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, yedidi!  ! יום הולדת שמח, ידידי     (That means “Happy birthday, my love”.)

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