My daughter Nikki and I have always been into decorating for Christmas - and Chanukah - but Christmas remains the big event. It all began when Nikki moved into her first apartment in the city after graduating from her masters program at age 21. Every year the trees got bigger with ornaments added on from prior years. Some were hand made, or engraved with names and dates, others from unique stores that specialize in Christmas items.

This year I wanted to find something specific the children could identify with me, so I asked Z where to look. Off we went to the mall. After looking at dozens of gorgeous ornaments ... there it was ... the perfect ornament ... alone in Macy's as if Z set is aside for me. There's nothing like having a "personal shopper" who can time travel.

When I held it in my hand, I had the strangest sensation. I looked at "my bridge" then at the Statue of Liberty as you turn the ornament counter-clockwise. The bridge represents my view of the Verrazano Bridge just east of the Statue of Liberty.

Happy ... I walked to the cashier wondering if there was a greater message as Z had a smug look on his face. And there it was. I stood there shocked when the cashier said the price of the ornament was 11.11. Thanks Z for giving me another great moment in the program - an early gift from Santa. Ho! Ho! Ho!