Yumiko's 13th Birthday

Today was Yumiko's 13th birthday. It began with an early drop off at her ballet camp. Ken and I told her we would try to be back by 3:30 at the latest to pick her up. Then we drove off to downtown Philadelphia to Pennsylvania Hospital where Ken was meeting his neurologist and participating in an ongoing research study for Parkinson's patients. We got to the hospital on time and then Ken spent the next three hours answering question after question to test his memory and determine how his brain is doing. This is the third year of this study and Ken has participated each year. I sat right next to him and tried to answer the questions as well. It is a good thing the doctors are not checking my brain as I did not do nearly as well as Ken.

The testing was over about 1:30. We had a quick lunch and then drove back home in a hurry. I had invited three of Yumiko's good friends over for a little surprise birthday party, but still had to get the cake, prepare dinner, and get everything organized. By the time I picked up Yumiko it was close to 4:30 and she was NOT happy. She was one of the last ones at the camp and felt quite sad. How could it be that on her special birthday her old decrepit mother did not pick her up earlier. I tried to cheer her up, but didn't want to spoil the surprise. When we got home, she just went up in her room a little teary eyed and said she was tired and wanted to be by herself.

Just about 5:30 on the dot, each of her three friends came individually to the door. I let them in one at a time and they went up to Yumiko's room and each gave her a big hug and wished her a happy birthday. Then for the next four hours, these four girls had the time of their lives just being together.

Oh.... I'm tired, but happy that the day went well and we now have a full fledged teenager in our midst.