Happy Anniversary

Even before she could speak a word, Jessica had an unmistakable way to let you know where she stood. For nearly her first two years this tiny five lb infant used to drink her food: minky, doosey, milk, and juice. So you can be sure that when mommy heard her stir first thing in the morning, I would tiptoe into the kitchen, get a bottle from the fridge, and go in and present it. But what happened if I presented milk and she wanted juice, or juice when she wanted milk? Well she'd take the offending bottle, hurl it over the top of her crib, and smash it against the opposite wall, where, as it was the era of glass baby bottles, it would crash and splinter glass and spray the liquid. I got the message pretty darned quick. In a flash of understanding I would in the future come armed with two bottles, one of milk and one of juice so she could make her choice.
Some 18 years later, three days before her wedding, Jessica left the house one morning, her beautiful heavy blonde hair reaching down her shoulders and halfway down her back. Some hours later she returned sans hair. She'd had it shorn to a boyish bob framing her face. When Isaac arrived that he evening he blanched when he saw her and fell into a chair in shock and dismay. Said Jessica: "I had to make sure he wasn't marrying me for my hair." So it seemed there were other things beside the hair.....Well, Augusts l8th finally arrived: slightly windy but also slightly sunny. Thank God! The Schaller lawn was ready, camp chairs set up - 100 or so - Martin Grodin somehow, from somewhere found a bolt of white carpet and rolled it down from house entrance to tent and the waiting 5 piece orchestra, Jessica with her Dad at her side made one step forward when the band proceeded to play La Vie en Rose. Jessica halted- stock still- "They are ruining my wedding!!!!!!!!!! Dad dropped her arm , danced over to the bandstand, whispered in the bandleader's ear, then sped back to Jessica. And now the orchestra played the tune Jessica wanted, Mendelssohn's Wedding March. The day was saved. As usual, Jessica finds the way to get what she needs.
Happy, happy anniversary to my dearly loved children.