Happy Birthday, Patricia Ann!

Tomorrow Tricia turns Jack Benny's age and I can't let the occasion go by without a long distance toast to my beloved daughter-in-law.
I have known her since she was 18. I could not picture Erich without Tricia ever since he first brought her home. It was always clear that they were a great match. So first I have to give credit to my son for knowing how to chose a life partner.
Tricia, even in the midst of crisis, is always quick to laugh and make others smile. She has at the very deepest part of her a joy of life and a genuine love of others. There have been many times when she has shouldered so much responsibility that her light struggled to shine because she has been the one to step up to the plate when no one else would (I know, Prof.Hertz, too many mixed metaphors).
She is a loving, playful, hardworking mom who worries about them too much like all moms. But she is molding loving, thoughtful, delightfully happy little girls, not that I'm biased. And of course she has had help in that from that wonderful, thoughtful, loving husband of hers, not that I'm biased.
She seldom complains about anything, even health problems. She is smart, very smart and like all stay at home moms she worries about how to get back out there and yet not detract from her role as mom. And I am confident that she'll work it out and find her niche.
I love to spend time with her; I am honored that she wants to share things with me and trusts me to be a substitute mom. I treasure the times we get to talk about the serious things.
And lately we've talked about lots of serious things and I value her input when I am wrestling with something.
She is a lovely, loving, woman and I'm grateful she's my daughter.