21 Candles

This is the speech I would have made:

Outside, it was a tumultous nine months. Inside, you retreated from the chaos to float in your own little amniotic world - a free spirit then as you are now. 

Despite the odds being stacked against you, you were born with a sweet disposition. 

People are drawn to you because of your generous heart, your dry and wry sense of humour, your kindness and your ability to make everyone feel good about themselves. You are fun to be around.

 

There's still stuff you do - and don't do - that drives me crazy and sometimes I could scream; sometimes I do. 

But I know deep down that I've been blessed. It's a privilege to be able to tell people you're my daughter. 

My only regrets are that I didn't treasure the precious moments more, shouted too much and too often and failed to notice how time was flying. 

And here we are. Twenty one.