When Hannah was ten days old, Sam and I flew to Los Angeles so he could go on job interviews. We were staying in the Biltmore Hotel, which is a throwback to the days of gilt and marble. While Sam went on interviews, I went exploring with infant Hannah plastered to my chest in a front pack. I had never been happier.

The morning of the second day, I got onto the hotel elevator with two elderly ladies.

“There’s a wee one. How old?” one of them asked.

“She’s a week and a half,” I smiled.

“A week and a half?” harrumphed the other one. “She shouldn’t even be outside.”

Both of them shook their permed heads in disapproval. After getting off the elevator, I heard one of them tell the other, “Imagine just bringing a brand new baby along for the ride, with everything out there! Anything could happen.”

At the time, I was annoyed, but looking back, I see that not only was the old lady was right, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Enjoy the ride, Hannah, and everything out there, because anything can happen. Happy birthday.