Well, it's the last day of March. Thanks to ALL of you for taking time out of the busy early spring season to send to Birthday Gals. As this is my first year as a serious gardener, I can honestly and truly say I've never had such a fun March. March is usually that in-between-nothing-to-do month. What a change this year! I know you all were just as busy or busier, especially ya'll in the warmer temps. So, again, thank you so much for taking time out to make our birthday ladies feel extra loved and special. And, I just mailed out my one birthday card today. Pretty sad for the host, huh?! Heres' to blue skies a-comin'! Deannna

BJ--thank you for those updates. I have to admit I've felt a little blue ever since reading them, though. I'm sorry to have not been here when happyto lost her husband. I remember that he was struggling with his health. And yes, "yummers." I remember your airplanes, too, and Michelle and I had once exchanged Christmas cards before losing touch. I still remember what her family looked like. I hope everything worked out OK for them. Time really flies. I know your heart is breaking over Baby V. I have a good friend who fostered a baby from the time he was just a couple of weeks old until he was 16 months. She was single, so we (her girlfriends) all pitched in and he was almost as much a part of our family as one could ever imagine. She thought she was on a track to adopt him, but in the very week that the parental rights were to be officially terminated (after which my friend could begin the adoption process formally), his grandmother from 800 miles away applied to foster him. (Not adopt him.) I couldn't believe she would leave him in foster care that long and then just pop in at the last possible moment. My friend tried to make an appeal through the court system at the parents' termination hearing, but she was told foster parents don't have any rights in the relationship. She had to just sit silently, and then hand him over at the end. She was the only mom he had known at that point, and it was devastating for all of us. It could only get harder the more time you have with him, I imagine. But knowing he would be going to a loving home where he would be a priority helps so much. Not the same when he's obviously someone's afterthought. That hurts.

I'm glad your birthday has gone well, Charlene! All the best to Scissors, too, and may both of you have many happy returns of the day!

Happy Easter! Just returned from the east coast at midnight, so we're jet laggin' around. The Easter bunny came this morning and we've been eating eggs all day. No peeps in the house, but the malted eggs called to me, so I made myself a deal to stick to one color only---I ate some white ones---but I got sick of them quickly! My east coast visit was so fun---everyone was SO nice everywhere we traveled. We had a blast in Salem with Besh and her husband----it was not a mild night! lol. The two of them had us laughing and their stories were hilarious! Besh is delightfully charming and has a great sense of humor and I love her style! She has wonderfully expressive eyes and a flawless complexion. (I'm jealous.) Her husband's and her way of telling stories kept us entertained all night long and the place we met at was comfy and full of local color, including a gal dressed like TinkerBell that turned our husbands into rubbernecks! Ha! We loved Salem and picked up the usual tourist stuff: bumper stickers that said "My Other Car Is A Broom" and "Magic Happens" and such. Besh and her husband gave us a wonderful route alternative to Glocester and Rocky Point and the drive was full of small towns and historical architecture---just right! OH! I'll send Marci the pics soon! Further down the coast, we stopped by Mysic Pizza and got a pic of me under the sign; picked up a bumper sticker that reads: "Have You Had A Hot Piece Today? Mystic Pizza." and had a wonderful salad and 'a slice of heaven!' Great people. Drove on to New London and then took the car ferry to Orient Point - one of my favortie places in the WORLD! We stayed at an old inn there and the innkeeper was a nice older lady; a wealth of information. We had dinner at The Fifth Season and it was one of the best meals I've ever had! Lovely restaurant---YUM! We drove all over the place and then headed to Newark airport- how confusing is that place? YIIIIII! The little vacation was just what the doc ordered for DH and me and my girl friend took perfect care of my kids. Nothing was amiss upon my return; it was SO NICE! Anyway, we're back and so I will print, read, catch up, and post again tomorrow. I have a TON of laundry to do--I told my gal pal NOT to do laundry! I gotta do grocery shopping, etc. We are having ravioli and some tomato sauce for dinner and RELAXING the jet lag away..... Tikanas, your meal sounds delish! Hope it's peaceful and everything you wish for! Lynn, my thoughts are with you and your family. Watching parents grow old is very worrisome and touches the heart in a different way---sort of sad. I hope your father mends and gets back into the swing of things soon. (((((((HUGGLES))))))))) Joy to the world!