All my best,
Doreen

How I met Harrison’s father is also a good story…at “Journey to Jersey Boys”, Tim mentioned to me he lived in Pasadena, and I told him my company had an office there. “Well, if you’re ever out this way, look me up”, Tim announced politely, probably assuming it would never happen! “I’ll be out in a few weeks, Tim”, I responded, and immediately I could sense Tim thinking, “O my gosh,I shouldda been more careful what I wished for!!” And we did break bread at my favorite restaurant, The Original Pantry, a few weeks later!!

Stubbleyou, re Harrison wondering why the # of candles on the cake didn’t match my true age…do you think he bought the Benjamin Button story of my aging backwards??

Also, I’m very anxious to hear about the audition — How I Met Your Mother is one of my favorite shows, I watch it every Monday night. Believe me it would make me so happy to see you on the show!

Hope the rest of 2009 is full of even more blessings for your family!
Love,
Courtney

Mazel Tov and congrats on making Harrison’s adoption ‘official’. As you so beautifully wrote, Harrison was your son from the day you took him home.The love and pure joy all of you have as a family shines through.You all look beautiful and happy. Sounds like a great dinner Wednesday night. So wish I could have been there as well!Hope Harrison likes the book I sent. It’s one of my very favorite stories. Love, Pam

Howard, I’m afraid you Les Misunderstood about karaoke night – I was ‘begging’ the waitress for some ‘split’ pea, but all they had was lentil. She must have thought I said “Yentl,” cos the background music at the restaurant switched from Sinatra to Streisand.

Seriously, though, I realized later that the music did indeed create a poignant moment: While we were waiting for Howard and Charly to arrive, we noticed “Sherry” was playing in the background, remember? You told Harrison “[T]his song is from that show Mommy was in,” and I smiled to myself realizing that as important as Jersey Boys has been in your life and that of many others, it was something that simply was not a part of his young life’s experience. That moment reminded me how in life a new and very different chapter can open as the one before it closes. You have switched tracks, from Mary to Mom…and you are going to work harder than ever before, but for much greater rewards, too! Welcome to parenthood.

Thanks to Howard for pulling the evening together, to Charly for going from airport to home and then across two counties, and to you and Tim for including me in the evening.

It was indeed a terrific evening. Carmine’s was a great selection; food was plentiful, delicious, and reasonable. It was indeed Karaoke night there, but we were talking so much with each other, that Stubbs and I never did get to do our duet of “Beggin’”, splits and all!!

Harrison was so warm and personable, and I loved him as well. I do think Harrison liked me more though, because in his little impromptu hide-and-go-seek game as you guys were leaving, he found the most room to hide standing behind me.

Harrison was so, so well-behaved as Stubbleyou and I planned the agenda for your next cabaret show of ’60′s hits. Our biggest accomplishment of the night was finally convincing you that The Orlons were not a weekly knitting club. I think we did agree, reflecting on your “Movin’ on Up”, that your next show would feature a “South Street/Don’t Hang Up” medley, with updated lyrics for the not-so-new-anymore millennium by Stubbleyou. (You’re right, Jen…his parody of JLY’s new flick “Oy Vey…” was absolutely hilarious…just hope the movie is as funny!)

Charly is the only person I know who looks even more beautiful after a grueling airline flight and sitting in traffic for 2 hours than before she started the journey!! Loved when Charly came in and she gave me her wonderful trademark hug at the door and we started heading to the table…with the maitre d’ shaking his head in disbelief, seeming to say, “My gosh, what could she ever see in him??”

We all toasted the wonderful Danielle Gaudio Lalehzar, who helped you, Tim, and Harrison become such a great family. Finally, thanks for the wonderful birthday surprise, and thanks for only putting the one candle instead of the true number! (Yeah, Stubbleyou, I know if the true number were there, we would have needed a fire extinguisher handy!!) Thanks again too for introducing us all to Harrison; with so much love, he has an awesome future ahead.