This is such a lovely piece, Catherine, both welcome and accomplished. Medium (and most other places) are full of stories of pain and hurt and trauma: they're important, but they are not the only stories out there. Stories of happiness are harder to tell, I think, either because happiness is hard to explain, or maybe Tolstoy is right that "All happy families are alike in their happiness." You manage it beautifully. You made your joy palpable, and I'm grateful for it.