A very happy birthday.

For the last two years I have had the honor of attending the birthday party of a remarkable woman.
Marie has known 4 generations of my husband's family.  Her beloved brother accompanied Mr. DD's grandmother when she forged release paperwork, marched herself into Nazi offices and sprung her husband out of a concentration camp immediately before they fled Germany.  Marie earned her PhD, traveled the world and has lived on the Upper West Side of Manhattan since the 50's.  Her nails are always painted and her hair is always done, because "if you let the little things go, the big things will soon follow."  She leaves her apartment with her aide almost daily and has been known to show up unannounced and bearing a gift at my huband's office.  She calls him her "jewel" and her "special friend" and claims to have fallen in love with him the moment she saw him.  (Apparently a theme in his life.)

We try to see her once or twice a month.  She has amazing stories and she loves company.  We feel incredibly lucky to know her.