Thank you, Babushka

Several years ago the bridge I drove across each day for work installed FastTrak - the electronic device thingy that you use to pay tolls. One of the world's great inventions. My daughter, Jenni, and my son, Joe, were both working across the bay, too, at that time so I got transponders for them and paid their tolls for them. They had finally reached the age where I didn't need to pay for their cell phones, newspapers, magazines, or anything else. But I needed to keep at least one string attached (yes, I'll admit having total separation anxiety) so I continued to pay their FastTrak bills.

Now none of us work on that side of the bay so we don't use FastTrak often. But Jenni, Jeff and the kids have an interesting custom. Apparently whenever they cross a bridge and the FastTrak transponder beeps to indicate the charge has been made, they all shout out, "Thank you, Babushka!"

This week Jenni and I went over to Stanford to have lunch with a friend and as we came to the toll booth, one of the kids said, "Don't forget to say thank you to Babushka." I asked if I also had to say thank you. Eamon said, laughing, "No, you don't say it - you ARE Babushka!!"

So I am!