The winning hand in black jack.  The age at which you can first legally consume a beer or other alcoholic beverage.  The product of 7 and 3, two prime numbers.  Add this number to the word Century and you can sell Real Estate in a gold jacket. 

It's a great age.  It's hard to remember what it was like to be that young, facing graduation from college and a whole new world of opportunity.  I would not have imagined that 5 years later I would give birth to a son who would someday be that age.  But here it is.  I  now find myself the mother of an amazingly talented 21 year old son majoring in Art at Indiana University. 

How is it possible that the adorable child who loved to watch Jane Fonda exercise videos could now be old enough to live his own life?  And how is a parent supposed to make that transition from being closely involved in all aspects of his life to being available only when called upon?  How do you shift gears from telling them what to do to supporting them in their own decisions. 

It may take me 21 more years to figure that one out.

Two numbers that now carry special significance.  What a day to be flying from New York to San Francisco.  The airport was fairly slow with many people opting to observe their own somber memorial. 

The people of New York are absolutely wonderful - full of life and busily going about their jobs.  It is hard to imagine what it must have been like that day.

Years on this planet.  Poor Barbie.  She's gotta be feeling old by now.  But lucky for her, the year of her birth, 1959, is the same year that Allen Gant invented pantyhose.  She's been able to keep everything properly covered her whole life.

If Barbie had travel plans, she would most certainly want to visit Hawaii for her birthday bash.  It was admitted as the 50th US state in August of 1959.  Alaska was admitted earlier that same year, but Barbie isn't allowed to wear real fur and it's just too cold there.

Barbie might also be happy to learn that she was born the same year as Sarah Ferguson (Fergie, Duchess of York) and "Weird Al" Yankovic.  I'm sure Barbie would be happy to have them meet entertainers Ryan Stiles and Sheena Easton who are also 48.

If Barbie is a fan of canned meats (isn't everyone??) she will be happy to know that the pull tab was also invented in the year of her birth.  Some of the meat in those cans has probably been around at least 48 years.

So Barbie, here's hoping for another 48 years of plastic perfection!