Why I'm Counting Down: Because I need more days like this

This is part four of a blog series about why I'm counting down to vacation, while I catch you up on all that has left an impression on me so far this spring.

Days when I get to see my baby girl graduate from her first preschool class.
Today wasn't her last day of school--that's in two weeks--but Cienna's class held a program for parents to showcase some of what they've learned throughout the school year. They sang songs and performed finger plays, and shared cookies afterward.

All the while, I was thinking of the first time I saw her little hands. And the first time she held her own toy. And the first time she reached out for me. And the first time we walked, holding hands.

She did everything she was supposed to during the songs, and she also kicked her feet often and squeezed her dress--something my mom said I always did during school events as a child.

Cienna is energy personified. I'm so proud of how far she's come and overwhelmingly pleased with all she's learned this year, a testament to the wonderful teachers I adore. She can read a little, spell a little, write several words and names--including Lee and Twist, whom she believes are her cousins*, sing several songs, hold down a conversation better than some adults I know, understands traffic rules, respects community helpers and knows the jobs they perform, and, most importantly, she's developed a love for school!

It was also nice to have my parents there with us (of course they came!), and they rewarded her afterward with a trip to Chuck E. Cheese.

To no surprise, I've had tears in my eyes all day about it. But I won't really cry until the very last day, when she says good bye to her amazing teachers and new friends.

Fortunately, we get to see some of them in church on Sundays throughout the summer, until next summer when she has a new class, new teachers and new friends.

It's so true, though, what they say about how fast the years with your children go. You really do have to savor them.

[*Larry's friends, Lee and Twist, watched a hockey game at our house recently, and Cienna was quickly convinced they were her cousins. She demanded to know the spelling of their names and created many pictures of fish with "TWIST" and "LEE" written below her aquatic masterpieces. Even though it's been a couple weeks, she continues to draw pictures for them, as is the case with most of our guests, so they have art waiting when they return.]

Days when Tina Turner and Cher sing "Proud Mary" on Oprah.
OK, so, yeah, I'm including Cher and Tina, and Proud Mary, among the perfect day of Cienna's preschool graduation. I love Tina Turner in a severe way, and sometimes I love her story more than her music. Still, when you want a woman who can rock you, you pretty much want Tina Turner.

My favorite three are Tina, Patsy Cline and Madonna. (Joe: It's not because of the movies "What's Love Got to do With It?" "Sweet Dreams" or "Desperately Seeking Susan" though I have watched them all more than I care to admit.) Tina is a fighter, though she found her greatest success through inner peace. No other woman can reinvent herself as well as Madonna. And Patsy Cline's voice is simply unmatched. (This is not to suggest that these three of the best female voice of all time. That title clearly belongs to Aretha Franklin.)

Thursdays that find you dancing along, prouder than Mary, singing in your living room, don't happen nearly enough. You have to savor them.

Days when the work cafe has the best wedding soup ever.
It couldn't have come at a better time either. Despite the fact that it's a brisk 55 degrees outside, the air conditioning is still on in the office. I was happy the soup could warm me up!

Days when I come up with the best Mother's Day craft idea and realize it will only cost a small amount.
But it's a surprise, so that's all I can say.

Days when a guy calls to request more Chipper Jones coverage and then tells me this joke:

Q: What's the difference between an American blow-up doll and a Muslim blow-up doll?

A: The Muslim doll blows itself up.

It literally happened just like that. One second he's yelling about Chipper Jones, the next he's telling me a joke. It was the most perfectly-bipolar conversation ever.

Days when I land an incredible interview and learn something amazing.
But I can't share it yet, so that's all I can say.

Days when I realize it's only two weeks until Indiana Jones.
And I'm OK with being that kind of dork.

Days when it is the eve of Pens-Flyers and I read this story:
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20080507_Plot_by_Pittsburgh_fans_against_Rocky_statue_.html