May 9. Tuesday Night.

Hi Journey.

I'm doing what I can to get Mom's gift complete and sent off to Florida in time for Mother's Day…but my sisters aren't co-operating.

OK, it's their schedules, I know. By the time Carm had the kids off to Japanese language lessons Case was already out diving. I emailed them to see if maybe we could do it early Thursday morning in Asia , later my afternoon on Wednesday. We'll see what they say. If all else fails I'll figure out some present on my own and just say it's from all of us.

Of course, the risk there is that if Carm is thinking along the same lines Mom will get two different gifts from “All of Us Kids”--although she'd probably just laugh.

Good Bloom Team meeting today; Joni had huge news but, true to form, she let us get through all the business items first, and then shared her joy.

I floated the idea for plugging a client's parking meter during Snapshot session. Dana added that we should just do it every time a client comes in; Joni volunteered to keep time as best she could, but noted that she'd appreciate a little help, especially if we have multiple guests in the shop.

Next we discussed next week's Open House. Next Tuesday is our deadline for the presentation; we'll have our final review and critique, then on Tuesday afternoon we'll fine-tune it and have it ready and set up by Thursday morning.

Last we talked about the meal—and what to drink. The Crowne Plaza is catering a nice, sit down lunch with choice of beef or chicken, plus salad, potato or pilaf, dessert, plus coffee or tea. It's up to us if we want to serve any other drinks.

“ Champagne,” Viv volunteered.

“Too early,” Dana countered. “And too formal. How about a nice wine?”

“How about a nice after-dinner port?” Joni volunteered.

Shelly stepped in. “Why? You won't be drinking it anyway, will you now, Joni?”

Joni's cheeks reddened for the briefest of moments, and then she just beamed.

“No, I guess I won't.”

In one deft motion Dana scooted her chair back from the table's edge, leaned across the table, and took both of Joni's hands in hers.

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