thirteen

It’s Election Day: vote, vote, vote! (Not that you can vote three times. But it’s a day for emphasis.)

I’m still recuperating from last week. That last week of October always does me in. Two kids with birthdays, including one on Halloween. Oh, and there’s that Halloween thing too.

If you remember how sappy I got over my little guy turning seven, just imagine the emotions I could wring over my only daughter turning thirteen. But never fear, dear Reader, I will spare you the melodrama. Instead I offer a simple list:

Thirteen Things to Love About Lulu

  1. She can take an image like this: 

and whip up a costume like this:

2. Singing show tunes with her always makes for a good time.

3. Her eyes.

4. When she’s angry, her combination of high drama and those flashing big eyes brings to mind Bette Davis or Susan Sarandon. She may be maddening, but it’s always a good show.

5. How she dances everywhere. You should see her sashay to the refrigerator.

6. If it’s your birthday she’ll make cards and cakes, crowns and crepes. Or a stuffed pig. She knows how to take care of the people she loves.

7. She smiles when she reads.

8. She cries when she watches movies. Recently, Little Women did it. Which, of course, made me cry.

9. She knows how to throw a party. I wish you could have seen the dresses she and her friends created at her Project Runway party on Sunday.

10. The hug she gives without fail each morning.

11. Her accents. Just ask her what to do when your curry is too spicy and see what I mean.

12. She’s sentimental. She likes to look at her baby book with me on her birthday every year.

13. On the afternoon she was born, we got the best Halloween treat ever.

And those are just the first thirteen things I could think of. She’s quite a girl.
8 comments… add one
  • Kathy Nov 4, 2008 @ 10:38

    Happy Birthday, Lulu!! I also have a Halloween birthday!

  • melissa s. Nov 4, 2008 @ 10:42

    What a great sally! Your daughter sounds like a lovely girl. Happy belated birthday!

  • suzee Nov 6, 2008 @ 20:59

    Nice list, but I have to add two more to save for her fifteenth: the way she looks completely put-together and elegant even when dressed in a costume or with mud on her, and her whole face full on radiant smile.

    Happy birthday, a little late, Lulu!

  • Laura Nov 7, 2008 @ 0:01

    Happy Birthday Lulu girl! Hope you’re doing well Dish. Miss your face.

  • Emily Nov 7, 2008 @ 0:51

    I am partial to Miss Lulu’s voice… And that wonderful blanket she made herself for my little Rhiannon, who is almost THREE. Can Lulu babysit yet?

  • patricia Nov 7, 2008 @ 7:30

    Thanks everyone for all the birthday wishes for my kiddos!

    Emily, I’m also partial to Lulu’s voice. In fact I’m finishing up a whole *essay* on her voice–how it’s a charming voice, but not the best to have if what you really want to do is *sing*.

    She can certainly handle babysitting, but is still a little nervous about being away far from home alone at night…But we could always have her charges come here…I also know a 16-year-old boy who is now so desperate for money that he’s willing to babysit. He’s great at wrestling younger kids to the ground! (Oh. Maybe that’s not what you’re looking for.) 😉

  • patricia Nov 7, 2008 @ 7:33

    Another P.S. to Emily: Mr. T loved your responses to his wonderings. He didn’t understand them all, but he was clearly tickled to get a message, and he did his great, quizzical, what-the-heck-does-that-mean face when I read them.

  • Janet Nov 10, 2008 @ 0:00

    what a treat to see and read all you have been up to with birthdays and writing and living. Lulu is indeed a beautiful thirteen year old young lady–I think Halloween babies turn out to be the nicest treats anyone could ask for-wink-

    Fall is a beautiful time; one that looks as good on Oregon as California (at least this year) kisses to all the birthday folks and the non-birthday folks.

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