“We’re having a girls’ day!” is something my little one often likes to say.  It warms my heart.  Really mostly I’m working and doing chores, feeling guilty I’m dragging her with me.  But she makes our mundane time special; filled with laughter, imagination, and adventure.  In between rounds I scheduled time for a manicure and pedicure, or mani/pedi, and my little one asked if she could have pink sparkly princess nails.  Winking at me, the ladies fussed over her and gave her the palest of shimmer on her still-baby nails.  She felt so special and held so still.  Afterward she did not want to wash her hands for fear of her polish coming off.  She thanked everyone in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese just like I’d taught her and said it was our best day ever.  I confess the day picked up when I discovered the Hawaiian themed nail salon served tropical frozen drinks!  I almost dropped my teeth when they handed her a strawberry one.  Again with a wink and smile I realized they’d given her a virgin one, while Mommy’s lime one had a hit of rum.  Oh she was SO thrilled!  She said, “Mama!  My first margarita!” but it came out more like “marmameetuh.”  How precious this time is, and these moments.  I realize looking back I never regret time spent with my father while he worked.  I learned so much from him either about how to do something or life or just what his own childhood was like.  German theologian Walter Benjamin once said, “Counsel woven into the fabric of real life is wisdom.”  And now I carry that fabric with me and I am sewing it into the pieces of Maris’ life quilt.  Someday she will do the same for her children.  I hope and pray her scraps are filled with love, beauty, strength, happiness and memories that she will hand down and that they will last long into the next generations.  I can only pray and aspire to be the example my parents set for me.  So my little girly got a little mani … and maybe a special memory woven in along the way.