Girl's Day Out ...

On my 60th birthday, my beautiful eighteen-year-old granddaughter, Mandy, and I had lunch together. Later, we went to a place where they slathered make-up on my face, teased my hair, draped a gold jacket around my shoulders and dangled long gold ornaments from my ears ... all to Mandy's specifications.

A camera captured the moment.

I always enjoyed time spent with Mandy. She was a perfect blend of tough and tender ... knowing and innocent ... reverent and skeptical.

Walking through a department store later that same day, I was talking ... probably trying to impress Mandy's young mind with some important life lesson. She was probably trying to look attentive. One moment we were side by side. The next, she had moved swiftly ahead to help a young mother who was having a difficult time getting through the door with a baby buggy. I watched as a smiling Mandy opened the door wide and reached to nudge one wheel into line. Mother and child entered the store. Problem solved.

I was so proud of Mandy at that moment. Her sharp eyes and quick mind had seen the need. Her kind heart had rushed to meet it. It may seem like a small matter to others, but to me it wasn't small at all. It was an act that reflected the character of a fine young woman.

Mandy's voice is beautiful. Mount Saint Mary's school had a rule against freshmen singing in the choir, but the sisters made an exception in Mandy's case. They needed her. That was the year their choir toured Europe and sang their hearts out in some very beautiful places. Mandy loved the trip.

Home again ... back in the classroom ... Mandy announced - quite out of the blue one day - that she was "Pro Choice." Nuns clutched pounding hearts and gasped for air. Mandy walked calmly away from the clutching and gasping, and began searching for a school with more tolerant views.

Mandy valued life. She, personally, would never destroy life, but she believed each woman should be free to choose, for herself, which roads she would travel and which she would not.

Twelve years have passed since our girl's day out. Today, Mandy lives happily with her husband. A fine small son shares their life. Hopefully, a second child is waiting up ahead.

Dear Mandy ... I love you so.