I was present at her birth when my first grandchild, Jazmine, was born.  From the moment I first held her, Jazmine and I have had a special bond.  Jazmine turned 16 this January and I’m so proud of the young woman she’s become.  In a moment of weakness and pride I told her I’d take her anywhere she wanted to go, and she said, (gulp!) New York city.   So we waited until spring break, and took the birthday trip this week.

You have to know that my sweet Jazmine once traveled with a church group to serve the homeless in another state.  For that trip she took FOUR suitcases with her–with one entire suitcase devoted to hair products.  That said, you can imagine I was more than apprehensive about what she’d want to take to New York.  I insisted she bring only one carry on suitcase . . . and she did.   But she also had six other bags draped over her arms!  How we made it through security and onto the plane shall forever remain a mystery.