We had a good-sized bunch here for Thanksgiving, with lots of food, of course and also a birthday to celebrate: twelve year old granddaughters Schuyler and Gabrielle.  They are really my STEP-grandaughters but their original grandmothers have both died so I am the default Grandma and honored to be so.  In addition to pumpkin, pecan, and aple pies brought by my son Ben, stepson Andrew brought a birthday cake so there was no shortage of dessert. Or gifts.  I gave the girls each two books---but because of the fact that I can't remember every title*, I won't mention any and thereby shortchange any authors.  Enough to know that books are always a welcome gift in our extended household.

I remember the day 12 years ago these twins were born very well because of the circumstances---I was in Mass. General Hospital (very sick with aftermath of flu) while my daughter-in-law was in labor with twins down the road at a different Boston hospital.

We all survived and now the twins----Martin's youngest of five grandchildren---are in sixth grade, quite tall and pretty (I mentioned that to a friend who said: "Good, they can become models." Oh, puhLEEZE!)...and they have just moved back to Massachusetts from Florida so we can see them and their family more often.

Martin and I went to see Sean Penn's amazing performance in "Milk" Sunday afternoon and now I have the documentary "The Times of Harvey Milk" coming from Netflix. Bet anything SP watched it over and over.

   *  I just  remembered two:

The Hunger Games, and The Graveyard Book