She doesn’t even have to call. I’d be okay. I mean, it would be great if she called and I could do that amazing thing, but I could always do some other amazing thing. And anyway, whatever. You know why? Because yesterday was my dashing husband’s birthday. I was home in time for dinner. Ernie had decided that “we” should take Daddy to sushi for dinner. Know this: Ernie LUVS sushi. The kids today! I tell you!

So Ernie got a sushi dinner out of someone else’s birthday. (I say: way to work it kid.) And then, after we all had downed our portions of seaweed salad, Ernie took a look at what to you and me might look like an empty plate and said, “Mama, can I have that last little bit?” All the while gesturing at the few strands of seaweed clinging to the plate with his chopsticks.

Birthday Boy and I locked eyes with amusement, joy, pleasure, admiration, love. And I thought: not too shabby. Then I scraped the last little bit onto my son’s plate.

Leftovers: Like beauty, they are in the eyes of the beholder.