Happy Birthday to my granddaughter, Penelope! Birthdays are special occasions for all of us. We gather to acknowledge the growth of someone we love dearly. Today is a day for such a celebration.

Kathy and I are grateful that Penny, along with her Dad (Steve), Mom (Morgan), sister (Scarlett), and brother (Henry) live just two doors down from us here in San José. We see them just about every day, so we’ve had the opportunity to watch Penny grow day by day. She has transformed from baby to toddler to responsible older sister. She loves being creative, dancing, and reading. Her presence in our lives is a true blessing.

I have no recollection of my own childhood birthday parties, though I know I had them. Home movies from the late 50s show a bunch of kids wearing birthday hats sitting around a table in our garage. The first birthday party for a friend I recall attending was for my 38th Avenue neighbor, Donna Ostrom. It was probably her 5-year celebration. I won a prize for winning the drop-the-clothespin-in-the-bottle game.

A number of Penny’s classmates will attend her party today. If I’m not mistaken, the first school birthday party I was invited to was for my classmate, Davina Cosenza. All I remember about it is that the week leading up the the party seemed like the longest week of my life. I was so excited about going to her party.

Today we celebrate Penny… with gratitude!