senoritafish | (no subject)

Today is Avalon's 1st birthday. I can't believe it's been an entire year already! I had five dollars to my name so I went to 99¢ Only store at lunch. I found a set of stacking cups, a little bath scrubby with a terrycloth crab (pink), a board book, a set of rubber duckies, and a gift bag to put it in, all for $4.80. Not bad. I wish I didn't have to be so cheap, but after all, she doesn't really realize it's her birthday anyway. First birthday parties are mainly for adults. The kids are just happy to be around all their special people.

Her grandma is springing for dinner at the Ruby's (a fifties-style diner) in Seal Beach tonight after work. Coincidentally (or maybe not), it's Ruby's 20th anniversary, so they are having 82¢ burgers; not that I'm saying John's mom cheap too, but there it is. It'll be fun to sit in a restaurant at the end of the pier and watch people catch fish while we eat.

The pump gets put away tonight. Bye-bye forever. I guess I should just pitch it, but I can't quite bring myself too. Maybe in 50 years it will be an priceless heirloom on a future version of Antiques Roadshow - ("Can you believe people used to use these things?")

Soon she won't be a baby any more, my last one. I know now why my mother always gushed over babies; not that I do, but I understand. I get pangs every time I look at her. Not as physically painful as a year ago today, but as filled with regret that one stage will soon be ending, and with welcome that another is starting.