It's my 38th Birthday, and I get off early to go to the Y to see Berit's dance recital. I'm kind of grumpy but Berit's dance lifts my spirits. She's amazing - tap, jazz, ballet - out there with older girls. She keeps the rhythm quite well and memorizes dance steps that would befuddle her old man.

Even during the ballet part, when she is the only one without slippers, she proudly keeps stride with the rest. She is full of joy in this, and likes to show me her dance numbers at home.