Laura turns 23 today, December 23, 2019. It is a special day today as it was on December 23, 1996 in Alta Vista, Ottawa. The General Hospital was just a few blocks down the road and the succession of three nurses assisting with the delivery went from sweet to a bit less sweet to tough as nails was it just cool coincidental? Or did they send us the nurse they thought was needed at every step in the process. I never knew the answer but that is how it seemed at the time with each nurse getting tougher as the process got tougher. Until a wonderful little baby namex Laura burst into the world exactly 23 years ago. As a toddler, she would distinguish herself from other kids at the Canterbury Community Centre playtime by her rare ability to speak in clear, logical, well formulated sentences from an early age. Her raw intelligence and reasoning power were evident much earlier than with most children. It was always a deeply satisfying pleasure to communicate with little Laura since her sentences would emerge fully formed. "That child is very bright", her grandmother would marvel. Her precocious communications skill-set allowed the adults around her to talk with her in ways that were not common Those early years were very good ones indeed And so on this very special day, 23 years later, the message is a clear, simple one Happy birthday Laura. As you continue to hone your skills and talents, know that you are still bringing joy and happiness to everyone around you. Just as you did as a precocious toddler and child. That is your gift. May the next 23 years bring you all that you so richly deserve as you sit on the cusp of life at 23. All the best to you.