Friday was the day before CoCo’s birthday. For those of you who don’t know already, CoCo is mildly mentally impaired.

CoCo does need a lot of support from family and friends. My, oh my does CoCo have a lot of friends.

CoCo lives by herself. She has a job as a courtesy clerk at a local grocery store. Three days a week she walks to the train station, takes the train two stops over and walks to work.

I’m still smiling, three days later, at sweetness of the train conductors.

Her train ride is only twelve minutes long. Yet, in the 6 years she been riding, she’s endeared herself to the conductors.

The conductors sang “Happy Birthday” to her. They got on the intercom so the entire train heard the song. Note: This is the early morning commuter train; many cars are deemed ‘quiet cars’ as the groggy commuters make their long trek into Chicago.

She got a long whistle salute to send her off on a happy note when she disembarked.

On Saturday, we went to her favorite for a late lunch: Buffet. It’s her favorite because she gets to eat free on her birthday and a robot brings her cake and sings “Happy Birthday.”

The hostess fitted CoCo with a ballon birthday hat.

Of course, we all gathered, and of course, I made her a white cake with pink frosting, as requested. And of course the restaurant had no problem having their robot transport the cake all the way from one end of the restaurant to the other.

Sunday we treated CoCo to Chicken and Waffles, her favorite breakfast. If that weren’t enough, the waitress brought her a birthday pancake.

Did I tell you CoCo likes to eat? She ate every bite!

She must be the happiest birthday girl in the world.

Smothered in the kindness of those who know and love her.

What more can anyone want?