16 years

16 years...

married to my best friend.

We sat at the counter at one of our favorite (maybe just mine...but he loves it because I do) restaurants.

I ordered the Market Street salad + asparagus...he ordered the early bird special (gulf shrimp).

We talked.

It is comfortable--but so dear at the same time.

We think so much alike on the things that are most important to us...

yet so different on a few non-essentials---

which keeps life interesting...

and keeps me learning...

and growing...

and I love him more for it.

We finished the date with an impromptu tour through the city of our old "firsts"

(click to enlarge)

the house I lived in when we met--

the apartment he lived in when we met--

the apartment I lived in when we were dating--

the house he lived in when we were dating--

our first apartment married...

and then the place where we were married.

We talked about our favorite memories together...

and some memories we want to make in the future.

I felt loved, happy, and grateful.

family reunion

We gathered for her...

from OH, NY, CO, IA, AZ, TX & UT

June 24th-27th

She is our Aunt Dot (great-aunt for me)

It was a celebration of her 90th birthday!

She flew in from Ohio...after golfing nine holes.

I want to be just like her in so many ways.

She mentioned during one of our conversations during the reunion--

that we are all a bit more agile and fit than her regular companions.

I asked her the secret of her youth, agility and longevity...

Her secret:  no stress.

She was a child's psychologist for a school district.

She has spent her life doing the things she enjoys (including her work).

She has always been able to provide for herself.

She doesn't let little things bother her.

She spends a portion of every day helping others.

She is very witty.

She is a beautiful letter writer.

...and she had no kids of her own = no stress :)

She has most anything she needs or wants

so I was happy that we could compile a book of pictures and memories to surprise her!

She loved it.

We love you Aunt Dot.

Her only request:  keep gathering.

I know we will.

my favorite memory

We were playing "Make Me Laugh."  We would divide the room into two groups.  Each group would do about anything to crack the stone faces of their opponents, while they sat together on the couch.  My group was my aunt, her boyfriend (now uncle), my little sister Annie, and me.  We were up against my mom, dad, sister Dede and my brother Mike (one of the funniest people I know).  We were definitely the underdogs in this group.   

We tried to put our funniest feet forward...but there was nothing.  They were a hard crew to crack.  My small team huddled in my bedroom (I was a senior in high school).  I don't know whose idea it was...but we switched outfits.  Annie traded with my aunt (how did she get my little sister's, who at the time would have been 11 at best, shorts and t-shirt on!?)  I wore my uncles clothes (khaki slacks and a blue polo) and he put my jersey floral dress with sweater on.  We walked in one by one....Annie first...and then we all walked in...they were fine until my uncle entered---wearing a teenagers dress...and
WE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

And he won us all over that day...we loved him, and we will miss him.

the greatest neighbor

As we pulled up Grandma's driveway we saw the bike parked by the door.  "Shane's here!!!"  Shane is often visiting Grandma.  You will find him taking Blossom out (the dog), vacuuming, emptying the trash, collecting the mail, fixing Grandma breakfast and yesterday I saw him replace the water on her oxygen machine.  Shane lives next door to Grandma---he is undoubtedly the greatest neighbor I have ever known.

I met Shane when Danny and I were dating.  As a young child he had a very high fever which caused brain damage.  He is one of the most generous hard working people around.  He works at a local grocery store.  He is very careful with his money.  At our reception he brought a gift.  He gift-wrapped a roll of paper towels with a note that it was from him.  That is one of the most memorable gifts I remember receiving and I remember it fondly. 

If Shane isn't working or at Grandma's house you will often find him constructing projects with the neighborhood kids.  Yesterday he followed us to Danny's mom's house-- actually we followed him.  He and my girls beat us over there and proudly exclaimed "We're fast!"  They went straight to the garage and found wood, rope, nails and hammers.  They had big plans of building a tree house.  They constructed, hammered, planned and talked.  No tree house was built...but a lot of fun memories.

we treasure her

Last weekend we had a family party after Robert and Whitney's open house.   Michel was our official d.j.  Grandma was standing off to the side, leaning on her cane.  "Shoop" by Salt and Peppa came on and Grandma was dancing!  She was so cute...I could hardly stand it.  Just before that she was on the ice skating rink, in her wheel chair with her great granddaughters behind her---giving her a ride.  She was grinning from ear to ear!  I will never forget it.  A few other things about her I love~

she loves....
flowers
dolls
making doll clothes
going to parties
collecting beautiful things
going anywhere...she's always ready
Mimi's Cafe
antiques
Blossom (her dog)
her kids (grand kids)
sleepovers with Quincy (a great-granddaughter)
giving gifts
shopping at Gardner Village

I think of her when I see:
baskets of gold (flower)
black-eyed susans (the first flower she gave me from her garden to plant in mine)
fruit trees
any doll
Shirley Temple movies
onions growing in a vegetable garden
quilts
books on flowers, art or church history
a movie in the theater
ribbon & lace
vintage doll clothes

Love you Grandma!!!!!!! Want to go to a movie tonight!!!!????

p.s.  I asked Sophie what grandma loves the most...her immediate response, "Us!" 

images taken August 2008

a stop along the way

We had the great fortune to be one stop along the way of their across country travels.  My aunt Jossy and her sweet friend Marcia began their adventure in Rhode Island.  They both spend their summers on Hog Island, RI.  As summer ended they jumped in the car and decided to see the country.  Some of the stops they have made are Ohio, Chicago, Iowa, and Colorado.  After their visit here they are on their way to Bryce Canyon, Zions National Park and the Grand Canyon.  Their adventure will be complete when they arrive in Scottsdale, AZ.

Aunt Jossy is my mom's sister.  She and Marcia have been friends since they were very young.  Both of their families spent their summers on Hog Island.  Our families go way back--but this was my first time to meet her.  We have had a delightful time getting to know her.

There are a few stories from Hog Island that will never be forgotten.  One of those stories links Marcia with my grandmother.  Marcia was about 14.  Her little cousin was missing.  The word spread quickly and everyone on the island stopped what they were doing to look for the little boy.  Three hours had gone by and Marcia turned a corner with my grandmother.  She spotted her cousins feet in a rain barrel.  They got the small boy out and my grandmother, a nurse, immediately began to perform CPR.  She tried everything she could to save him.  In fact, Marcia told us her aunt (the boy's mother) had said later of the event, that my grandmother provided the best medical care possible.  Unfortunately, it wasn't enough.  He was gone and my grandmother's heart was broken.  That experience changed my her.  The island, where she had so many happy memories like her engagement to my grandfather, was never the same for her after that. 

Marcia went into the medical profession in her career.  She pursued a strong focus in CPR.  We talked a lot about it while she was here.  I have certified a couple of times.  I asked her, "Will it really com back if I need it?"  The number of compressions, breaths, the order of things...how do you remember when we don't use it?  She promised that it will be there.  15 compressions + 2 breaths was taught for a long time.  Now some experts say just compressions...the important thing is to know at all---to get certified.

Thank you Aunt Jossy and sweet Marcia!  We miss you already!  Someday I will drive across country...headed straight for Hog Island, RI to enjoy a summer of no electricity, kerosene lamps, swimming, card games and good books.  Next summer we hope to fly there (no cross country road trips with my crew!) with the girls and stay for a week.  Thank you for the invitation!