Nationwide Birthday Celebration

When my children began planning a celebration of my 80^th birthday in May, it soon evolved into a nationwide celebration.  When it became apparent that it would be difficult to get all of my progeny—nine children, 17-plus grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and eleven spouses-in-law—all together in one place, they decided to begin with a celebration at my home, and then ship me out west  to continue the celebration with the rest of the family.   Accordingly, on the weekend of May 7^th five children, with two spouses, and six grandchildren, gathered at my country home, for a sleep-out, cook-out, sing-out, play-out, with the grands continuing a decade-long game of Capture the Flag, the oldest players now 35.  On Sunday they hosted a cake and ice-cream social for family and 17 friends.   Families visiting included:  Dale Brady (WV), Paula Elizabeth (Ky), Bruce and Ingy Cutler, with Ava and Ty (NY), Amy and Lloyd Purves, with Austen and Julia, (MD), and Halle Papai, with sons Sean, Mitchell, and Spencer, (MD), (husband Bob absent).  Paula is the mother of two lovely married daughters who were unable to attend.  Lindsay and Chad live in NC; Whitney and Jaime Roberts, with their son, Quinn, live in AL.  A few days later I was put on a plane bound for the West, to visit family in Spokane, Missoula, and Denver.  In Spokane I visited for a few days with Cori and her new husband, Chris, and her 17-year-old step-son, Eric, and helped Cori start a flower garden.  Then spent a few days with Valerie and her husband, Craig, and two sons, Cass and Max, as well as a brand-new great-granddaughter, Diandra, and her mother, Charmaine, and went shopping with Valerie for wedding finery and gifts.  We all traveled to Missoula where I visited with Julia and her husband, Chris, and their two grown sons, Patrick and Mark.  There we attended the wedding of Mark and Robin, as well as meeting for the first time Patrick's wife of two years, Lindsay.  There were a few exciting days spent with 20 family members at a family cabin on Holland Lake, for talk and good food and boating and reading, and where 10 grands continued the western version of the game of Capture the Flag—in just a few short years they will be bringing my great-grands home to play the game with them.  From there I traveled with Tim and his wife, Kim, to Longmont and Denver, Colorado, on the way touring  Yellowstone Park.  In Denver we had a tour ofthe enchanting Botanical Gardens and of the awe-inspiring Garden of the Gods, and attended a symphony, Mahler’s 9^th.    As well, I visited with four grands—Josh, Ben, Joe, and Grace, and a step-granddaughter, Livvy.  In Longmont I visited with a former daughter-in-law, Julie, mother of four of my grandchildren.   Oh, and lots of wonderful food, home-cooked and at local restaurants.   And then, after three weeks, a three-hour flight home.  Let’s see, did I forget anything?  Anyone?  Probably, but all told a wonderful, exhilarating, exhausting, yet relaxing, celebration.

Birthday Greetings for a Granddaughter

[Ava is my youngest granddaughter, and today is her twelfth birthday.  She lives in New York with her architect parents, is smart, talented, graceful, charming, a joy to know.  She is very tall for her age, in fact, taller than myself, which isn't very hard to do.]

Happy Birthday, Ava.  I hope you have a wonderful day and a wonderful celebration

Twelve years old.  WOW!!  I remember when I was twelve, even as I now approach my four-score.   We didn’t have birthday parties in those days, except our own immediate family, of which there were enough to have a party anyway.  My mother always made a three-layer yellow cake, frosted and decorated, and served with—not ice cream—jello, with whipped cream.  We didn’t have a refrigerator/freezer, only an ice-box, so we couldn’t keep ice-cream, and it was too far to run out to the store to buy some.   My parents gave me a birthday card that had pansies on it.  They gave me a scrapbook and an autograph book.  The first thing that went into the scrapbook was the card with pansies.  Through my high school years I filled the scrapbook with cards, letters, photos, and mementos, and kept it for 30 years, but unfortunately it was accidentally left behind when we moved to Montana.   Do young people today use autograph books?   This was a little, fat book that we carried around with us and got our friends to sign—some wrote little rhymes or wishes.   I only remember three of the autographs in mine—hmmm, all three from adults.  Maybe we do listen to the grownups.   My mother wrote:  “Good, better, best/Never let it rest/Until your good is better/And your better, best.”  My dad wrote:  “Now is the time/You are the girl/ Give me a kiss/And make my head whirl.”  I think my Dad must have had lots of practice writing that verse before he met my mother.  And my science teacher, Mr Yost, wrote: “May your life be long and happy/With just enough rain showers to make the sunshine always welcome.”  And now I will close with lyrics from an old song:  “Stay as sweet as you are/Don't let a thing/Ever change you./Stay as sweet as you are/Don't let a soul/Rearrange you.”

With love, hugs, and kisses,

Gramma Windy