Anna M. Aquino

            When I was a little girl I was notorious for thinking the world stopped on my birthday.  Really, in my mind, it should be a national holiday.  Perhaps one day it will be in the future (Grin).  I used to think that it should be one big day of party for me and my special day. I thought everyone I knew and love should stop what they were doing and throw a parade for me equipped with parades of helium balloons and giant cakes with people popping out of them. I remember however the day that all changed.  It was the year that my oldest daughter was born.  Her birthday is just a few days before mine.  I didn’t get a birthday cake and a serenade until much later that year.  I think Dan and I had gotten into a small argument, and most of our energy was spent on trying to be young parents.  It’s amazing how having children humbled me quickly.       ...

Yesterday my youngest daughter insisted I let her wear a dress that is a hand me down from her sister. I took one look at it and knew it was way too big for her. She pleaded and pestered. Finally I said “Ok, just try it on and then we’ll talk.” In my head this little inch of giving in was going to prove to her that it was way too big for her. In her mind it was just an excuse to pester further. I wasn’t about to let her in public looking like that. The dress was at least four sizes too big. I could see the frustration bubble up inside of her. “Hunny it really doesn’t fit you.” I could see it sagging on top of her clothes. “But when will it fit me?” She whined. “Maybe in a year?” Really I was exaggerating. Maybe in a few years is more like it. “So next week?” She pleaded. “No dear. Maybe in a year.” “So maybe by my birthday?” I watched her pleading with me. She wanted to be big enough to wear the dress. But she just isn’t yet. Then something like a li...

My oldest daughter’s birthday is fast approaching, and as part of her present I made her a purse out of duct tape. I know it sounds odd, but it’s actually a very cool thing. I had made one for myself, and she loves it. However what she doesn’t know is that I went out of my way to pick out a roll of duct tape with a pattern that I knew she would really like. The purse has been made and even made its way to Ohio so that she could get it on her birthday. It’s been tucked away waiting for her special day. Today I decided to make a duct tape purse for one of my nieces too. So I could put it with her birthday present as well. They share the same birthday. I knew immediately what pattern of design duct tape I wanted to use. It was a different one than the one I used for my daughter. When we went to Wal-Mart to pick up the tape, my oldest daughter took one look at the different colors and patterns and picked out the exact one that her purse is made out of, but she doesn’t know ...