"As much as a really great garage sale?" I finally answered through my own tears.

"As much as winning at monopoly," she answered and added, hardly able to get out the words, "I love you enough to miss Christmas, Sarah Jeanne." That was always the ultimate.

"It's nice to start a morning with someone saying they love you." I said through my tears. We walked back to the hotel, the cold Boston wind blowing up my bare legs. We parted with a hug in the lobby.