Birthday Moment Exquisite

For four hours I slept, Saturday, trying to shake off gripping headaches, chills and an oncoming sore throat.

After I dragged myself downstairs, N (accompanied by her grandparents) reenacted for me our Christmas caroling routine from the night before: “Joy to the World,” “Silent Night,” then the handover of a container of (supposedly) “apricot and strawberry jam,” and finally “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Earlier in the day she had opened the first portion of her gifts, and she was still wearing her yellow princess dress, and she sang so very clearly in spite of not knowing most of the words, her brow furrowed with thorough absorption.

Here’s the birthday girl in her birthday play clothes. (Recognize the hampers?)