I come from the world's smallest family. Seriously. And I'm an only child. So, I didn't have brothers and sisters to pick on growing up. I didn't have cousins down the road that I could hang out with. So, I filled the gap in my lack of family with friends and their families.

I think it's kind of brilliant actually. I mean I got to pick my family. No one was assigned to me. I don't have to put up with an obnoxious brother or a shoe-stealing sister. I get to choose who I want to spend holidays with and who I want to send birthday cards too.

And then I joined the fraternity and that was a whole other type of family.

So, this weekend I have reunion. Sort of. Several of us are converging on D.C. for a weekend of nerdy education, frivolity, friends and fun. I'm so very excited too. First of all, Dan is opening his home despite the fact that his lovely wife has to take A Big Ass Exam on Saturday. He's letting us stay there. Baxter's meeting me in Dallas (at the airport) and we're flying together. Drew is taking a week off Dewey Beach to come see us. And best of all, Kerry and Ian are flying across the entire Atlantic to see us. (And her parents, but who's counting.)

Let's be honest. It's a reunion.

Moreover, it's Kerry's birthday today. Like today, today. (Happy Birthday, Kerry!) So, we can tell every restaurant that someone in our party is having a birthday! And they will shower her with cake! Well, hopefully they'll just server her. Showering her with cake would probably get messy. Although, that would be so funny. (Memo to me...see if restaurant would shower Kerry with cake.)

So, hooray! We leave tomorrow! We get to play for four full days in a city that doesn't charge admission! My fingers are crossed for a Night at the Museum type moment. (Come on, Octavius!) It's gonna be awesome!