*cannot help but smile and tip her own glass at Curufin's salute; while the the quality of the elf's character had yet to be established, he certainly had style and presence*

*sips her wine and studies him with interest while he and Melba continue their conversation; is caught off guard, however, when he asks about Ana*

*collects herself while taking a strategic sip, smiling brightly as she responds* I do hope to foster in my daughter a love for travel as well as an appreciation and respect for other peoples and cultures. I'm a bit embarrassed to say, however, that she has not done that much traveling yet. I suppose I am still a bit over-protective of her, as parents of young children often are. *with a smile of shared understanding* Although I suppose that feeling never quite goes away entirely, no matter how many years one's child has attained.