I'd like to thank this opportunity to thank my mother.

Four days.

Friday to Tuesday.

My mother was in labor with me for four days. Hearing that tends to make one feel very abashed.

I took four days to decide to enter this world.

Thirty-four years ago, also on a Tuesday, I was brought kicking and screaming into this world. Aren't you lucky?

I just wanted to say thank you, Mom. Thank you for not giving up on me, and for having the courage to go through the whole process three more times (with one set of TWINS to boot!).

I have to get use to saying, "I'm 34!" That's twice 17, so I feel really, really old right now...