It Was Just the Best Day by Liz Flaherty #RomanceGems

I switched days this month. Usually I post on the 31st. (What that means is that I, being the lazy Gem, only have to blog five times a year.) But I was so happy to write today because July 30, 1990, was one of the Best Days. It was exciting and so much fun and one of the most emotional experiences of my entire life--which is quite a while by now.

Aren't we lucky to have Best Days? I've accumulated a lot of them, but this day 30 years ago was the day Tahne, my beautiful and brave daughter-in-law, called me upon leaving her doctor's appointment and said they told her to come home, but she wasn't sure about driving. Because, you know, pains. I told her I'd be right there.

Mari Flaherty Gridley

Looking back, I'm sorry our son couldn't be there--he was in the army most of the way across the country--but mostly I'm glad I could. Mari Elizabeth Flaherty, our first grandchild, was born that evening. My daughter and I stood in for Mari's dad (admirably, we thought) and I still remember the excitement, the overwhelming rush of love, and how proud I was of Mari's mom.

It was, oh, yes, the best day ever. My husband was on a business trip, but when he got home in the middle of that night, we still went to the hospital.

Tahne and Mari stayed with us until after training, when they could be together as a family again, and it was a precious time. My eyes are leaking a little even now as I remember it.

Some of the other Gems and I have had some Best Days lately, too, writing and promoting Last Chance Beach: Summer's End. We've learned things, made mistakes, sent Joan Reeves and the rest of the production team over the edge more than once, and produced 14 stories we are proud of, excited about, and--at the risk of sounding truly sappy--in love with. If you haven't ordered yours yet, go ahead and do it now--I'll wait. It's truly a wonderful way to spend 99 cents!

Speaking of Best Days, share one of yours with us in comments below. We'll celebrate with you and I'll send out a goody bag to a commenter on the post, chosen at random. No picture of it because I don't have it assembled yet, but I'll try to make it fun and I'm sure some of it will taste like chocolate!

Don't forget to enter for the monthly giveaway, too, and take a look at the Last Chance Beach page here on the blog site.

I hope this is a Best Day for you. Happy birthday, Mari. Papaw and I love you thiiiiiiissss much!