Love, Baby, Family

About twenty people attended Baby's early birthday party in the Bastrop area yesterday, mostly relatives on Son's wife's side, with Fiorella, Husband, Daughter, Fio's brother and his wife also in attendance. The barbecue was delicious and the company congenial. Never in the annals of birthday parties has a child ever received so much attention and well-wishing--or so many thoughtful gifts. Never has a house rung with so much laughter and goodwill.

Husband and Fio don't have many relatives in central Texas, but no matter what happens, Baby will never be alone because, thanks to the good God, her son married into such a large, loving, caring family.

Round-about and Back Again

Good morning,
Morning glory!
Glory to God,
God is good,
Good morning!

Happiness Is a Happy Family

Minnesota son, who is visiting to help Fio and Husband in the aftermath of Husband's hospital stays, celebrated his belated birthday yesterday. In the afternoon, he drove into Austin for a get-together with Brother and Sister, and, in the evening, Brother came to the house and was joined by Cousin and Wife. There were a lot of stories and a lot of laughter, which warmed Fio's heart.  She slept well last night.

A Language Kind of Girl

Is Fio completely insane?  Yes, but enjoyably so.  She's wallowing in Spanish now, gulping down every noun she encounters, and even venturing into adjectives and a few prepositions. Fio loves learning languages--happy days are here again!

Sucker

Fiorella, who tends toward depression, feeds off the happiness of others.  Not in a vampiric way, but in a warming-her-hands-at-the fire sort of way.  When she was younger, she wept and raged at the unfairness of fate, but age has brought acceptance,

And Fio being Fio, she still hopes and prays and pushes on.

Life Is Good

Oink! Oink! Fiorella is in hog heaven!  She's ordered more bookmark hand-outs from the fabulous Cheryl Rae, she's decided to put an ad in her Georgetown writers' group newsletter, her story is moving along, her migraine has abated, her doctor proclaimed her fit and able, and she's lost two pounds since her birthday binge.

Top that!

Afterglow

Fiorella went to bed happy, slept well, and woke up happy.  What a wonderful holiday--Younger Son got engaged, Older Son and his wife visited from Minnesota, and Daughter and her husband hosted the family, including Aunt and Uncle, for a great party last night.  There were some bad times during the past week, of course, like when Husband fainted after Christmas dinner as a prelude to three days of fever and flu, but all turned out well, and the party was a wonderful finale.  Daughter scheduled it for six to eight in the evening, which meant everyone would be able to get home for a good night's rest--essential to OS and his wife, who were pulling out for home at 4:00 the next morning, but good for Fio too, whose sleep had been feverish and fitful lately.

Yes, Fiorella is happy.  She's always happy when everyone around her is happy.  Let's hope the holiday ia a prelude of the year to come.

Ecstatic!

Fiorella is brimming over with happiness: after a year of rejection, Friend Suzy's husband has gotten a job, a promising position which he well deserves.

It makes Fio feel good when good things happen to good people. It gives her hope that Hijo Menor's talent will be soon be recognized and that he also will join the ranks of the employed, the up-and-comers. It gives her hope that Hijo Mayor will find his own niche of success, and that her own inspiring romances will be recognized as powerful and publishable, and that all the world will be joyful.

Yes, Fiorella wants heaven on earth--for everyone.