Today, January 3, was my wife Julie’s birthday. Nora, seen above, made her a cake, and frosted it. She picked out the recipe, and decided that the cake itself needed to be green, because that’s Mama’s favorite color, and so should the cream cheese icing. Then she decided that because purple is Mama’s second-favorite color, she should pipe the word “MAMA” in purple icing. So she did.

We have cava with it, and then Lucas and Nora performed REM’s “Nightswimming,” which is Julie’s and my song. (Our 18th wedding anniversary was on December 30, but Julie was out of town; this was their present.) We’re watching Downton Abbey now, and drinking pink cava. Life is good.

Nora just informs me that today is also J.R.R. Tolkien’s birthday. So now you know.