Today is one of my favorite days...

Although 9/11 has taken on an ominous meaning, for our family it is a day of joy -- Jake was born on 9/11.

Sometimes, Nature and Man seem to conspire to put a damper on joy; Jake's special day seems to be primed for that conspiracy. On 9/11/92, Hurricane Iniki (a category 4 storm) hit Hawai'i. We lived on the Windward side of O'ahu, and had minimal damage, though Kaua'i was devastated. Jake's 5-year-old birthday party was postponed, while neighbor helped neighbor prepare for the storm -- taping windows, bringing in lawn furniture, double checking our hurricane supply boxes. We made it up to him later that month.

Then, the morning of his 14th birthday, he awoke to a world gone a little dark, and his parents immobilized to the news reports. We did manage to pull ourselves together in time to take him to dinner with another friend who shared his birthdate. And a trip to Borders. We had his 14 1/2 birthday party on March 11th.

Now, Jake is 22, happily employed in Seattle with football season here.

22. wow.

good times.