Good-bye Seven, Hello Eight

This is the last picture of Araceli taken while she was seven. It's a great picture because the flowers that look like they're sprouting out of her head are symbolic of the wonderful ideas and inspirations that flow out of her continually. She is a beacon of light that sometimes turns into a firecracker. Or a forest fire. The next few days will be filled with a firestorm of birthday activities, starting last night with heavenly Birthday Eve apple pie from Jennifer and today with breakfast in bed from Golda and a package on the doorstep from Coco. Eight promises to be magical. My "gift" to Araceli last night was reciting the poem I wrote on my eighth birthday. After I wrote this little gem, my parents and all the adults around me praised me to such an extent that I thought I was a poet for a good 15 years until I realized I...wasn't. But here it is, because Ari thinks it's funny:

Good-bye seven, hello eight.
I hate to leave you, you were so great.
Good-bye seven, hello eight.
It seems I caught you with a fishing bait.
Good-bye seven, hello eight.

Yes, very profound. Happy birthday, little Ari. We love you!