My Friend Sam Steinberg is 18!!!

I met Sam the day he was born. His mom and dad let me be in the hospital to welcome him to Rochester, Minnesota and Planet Earth.

No doubt, he was adorable from the start. The special care nurses needed someone extra special for whom to care for a little while. There was no baby more special than Sam for them to show their love.

Sam went home to Red Wing.

His favorite place there was the Econofoods market. Just like the special care nurses, the people at Econofoods knew how wonderful Sam Steinberg is. On one birthday, they FLEW him on a plane to their headquarters so they could meet him.

I don’t know how to top that one, so good luck Nick and Jen for birthday celebration ideas! Sam has a younger bro named Eli. I’m never sure if it has an “i” or a “y” but can change it the minute I’m notified if I’m wrong. Like all brothers they tease and annoy, but in the end, they love.

For this birthday, I am in Nyons, France so cannot join a birthday parade should one occur.

Instead, in honor of Sam, I have visited a couple of French markets to share what they are like with Sam.

First Stop: Monoprix

Monoprix sells home goods and sales are indicated by colorful circles.

Next, I went to Intermarché

Bread and pastries are so good in France, they need their own sections. The candy is pretty good, too.

Happy Birthday, my dear friend, Sam Steinberg! Thank you for visiting me in January.

Thank you for including me in your beautiful life. Thank you for being my friend. I love you and all the Steinbergs.