I stopped at a drug store to pick up a sympathy card on my way to work last week. As I came around the corner of the card aisle, I encountered two little girls, who were approximately five and seven years old. At the sight of me, they both froze, wide-eyed, like deer in some headlights, likely unsure if I was there to chase them away.

As I began to browse, they resumed doing the same. The younger girl was wordlessly opening each of the the musical cards, then gently placing them back of the shelf and choosing another, despite her sister's whispered protests of "No ... stop ..." and "That's loud ...".

Meanwhile, the older girl was busy at the other rack, where she would chose a card, read it aloud with great fanfare:

"Happy Birthday to cool and classy auntie!"

She would then hold the card out to show her younger sister the picture. They would both give a wordless nod of approval, then move on through the racks.

However, as I continued to shop, the irony quickly became overwhelming. I do not think that the musical card browser intended to open her cards in sync with mine, but it seemed to turn out that way, with sometimes hilarious results.

As you grieve the loss of your mother ...

Celebrate good times, come on!!! Let's celebrate ...

... please know that our thoughts are with you.

I could barely keep from laughing out loud.

As I left, I couldn't resist asking the older one, "Are you two looking for a particular card, or just looking?"

"We're just looking," she said matter-of-factly, seeming quite pleased to be acknowledged, not reprimanded.

I told her I used to like to do the same at her age.