It Was A Happy Birthday

 My middle daughter, Shirley, had a birthday on Sunday! What do you do for birthdays? You Celebrate, of course!! 

Her children were all there, and all the grands (but one who was in basketball training). Her brother was in attendance, all the way from Alabama and of course, me (her mother)

 

                                         She was one happy birthday girl! 

   There was balloon inflating (with a machine) and a few blown up by sheer lung force. 

There were games and lots of just visiting and fun stuff going on. Chris (her son) did the cookout with her favorite burger, d-i-l Bethany and son Ken served Brownie Sundaes (another favorite). And, her Hubby John did the dishes!! For the first time ever, she was the queer of the hour without a thing to do but enjoy.

Once the crowd left brother and sister (both too old age-wise but never too old otherwise) stomped on the balloons one at a time to pop them. Now, that was a noisy time but they had a blast doing it! Some people just never grow up. 

       It was a milestone birthday but I'm not telling how many! You think I wanna get shot!! ha ha. 

Time Does Fly By!

 It's Sunday morning and the wind chill factor is in the single digits. BRRRRR!! Okay, countdown to spring starts right now. I am so over this bitterly cold weather. 

One thing about it being too cold to get outside, you try to find things to do inside. I decided I'd try a new recipe. I did  make a couple changes to suit what I had to work with. I had large chicken tenders instead of the breast and I used balsamic vinegar instead of regular vinegar. I was happy with my choices. And, it was so quick and easy. I'm all about quick and easy these days. 

Are you watching the Olympics? I don't follow any of the sports until they go head to head in the Qlympics and then I am hooked. Loved the American couple who ice danced the story about the matador. So well done. 

And, how about that Ollie ? Doing the Big Air at 17 years old, a broken arm and he was unbelivable!! 

It all is a nice diversion from the usual mundane tv stuff we have to watch. I stream everything now. Feel like I can be more selective, when and if I want to.

Today would have been my husband's 96th birthday had he lived. He's been gone 15 years now. I can't believe it's been that long and too, that I am still here. I feel very blessed in that regard. Also very blessed to have been married to such an amazing man for 60 years. God's certainly been good to me. 

This was taken at the last birthday he celebrated (2010). He was in an assisted living facility then and some of the family joined him for his big day. 

and here he is in happier times with his grandson, Griffin. This was taken in 2001 at the beginning of his Alzheimer's journey.

How time does fly!! And, the older we get the faster it goes. 

As the author, Elizabeth Keebler-Ross, wrote:

"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth - and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up - that we begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." 

Celebrating a Birthday and Life

 

Going older has been quite the adventure for me!

I've had time to learn about who I really am, what I want from life and what sort of legacy I want to leave behind. 

On Tuesday I turned 92...

Talk about a revelation that was. How in the world am I that age! Sure I had good genes but for all intents and purposes I should not be here. 

I've survived a lot in my life. The lost of a child, a husband, my mom, 2 cancers, and a ton of other less traumatic things. 

The first cancer was a huge surprise. Well, aren't they always? No one expects to get cancer. But, I probably would have died if it had not been found when it was. 

and...

how was it found?

Now this is the strange part. I needed a knee replaced and it was during the pre-op blood work for that knee replacement that they discovered that I had colon cancer. 

I'm not going into all that but it just goes to show you that I am so extremely blessed and I don't forget it. 

Please, everyone, keep an eye on your health. Live you life to the fullest. Have fun. Be grateful to wake up every day and don't forget to stop and smell the roses. 

Love you all.

More Celebrating!

 Another birthday celebration!! 

Yep, same guy. same birthday but 3 days later than the actual day. 

Michael and I drove over to the Eastern Shore... now, if any of you don't know what the 'Eastern Shore' is, it's this: The Chesapeake Bay splits off a slice of Virginia and the long peninsula that is on the east side is known as the Eastern Shore. It's Virginia but separated by a big body of water. 

Any way...Michael's big sister had promised him a seafood lunch as her part of his birthday. She and her hubby are house/dog/grandchild sitting at their daughters house and couldn't join us on his big day (the lunch at the Mexican restaurant). 

They took us to the Island House. What a view. 

Everyone got shrimp but me and I chose a crab cake sandwich. It was soooo good. 

We had a great time. And, Michael got his seafood! 

On another note: I don't know about all of you but I have a difficult time pronouncing worchestershire sauce. To be funny, Michael started calling it 'wash your sister sauce'.  Well, I knew what he meant.... and I thought it was cute. But, then Moms always think their sons are soooo darn cute, I don't care what age they are. 

Ole! Happy Birthday!

 We had a birthday to celebrate yesterday. 68 years ago Michael came into our lives and he's been a blessing ever since. 

He was the cutest baby!.

I treated him to lunch. I let him choose the location (of course, I did... it was his birthday)

We went to La Parilla's Mexican restaurant near my apartment. He was a happy camper. Loved his coconut margarita, his chimichanga, and best of all, the fresh guacamole made at our table. Oh lordy, that stuff was yum. 

We finished eating and he thought he'd escaped the usual noisy song and dance routine a lot of places do for birthday people. 

NOT SO FAST, buddy.

Here they come... a humoungous sombero and singing and they put a swipe of whipped cream on his nose. I loved it! He endured it! And, he had ice cream drizzled with carmel sauce all in a tortilla shell. 

It was just the coolest thing. We had such a great time and I am so happy I got to spend his special day with him 

A Milestone!

                       Yesterday I hit a milestone!

picture made in 2023 on my birthday

I celebrated my 91st birthday and I think that was quite an accomplishment! 

It was cold, rainy, sleety, snowy...

no way was I getting out in that so I stayed home, all by my lonesome, and had a great day!

Had lots of phone calls, text messages, facebook greetings and I even got a hug or two. 

Oh, I won't forget the beautiful flowers my granddaughter's family sent. She knows I love pink and carnations! 

I thought about my precious mother, newly widowed, giving birth to me and not a cent to her name. No plans for the future. All that had been linked to Daddy, who was now gone. It must have been a frightening time for her.

My Mom and Dad

But, we made it and just fine, I might add. And, here I am 91 years later! Gee whiz! So many blessings over the years, so many heartaches, too, but I love my life. 

I spent the day in reflection, in meditation, in looking forward....

Parties Galore!

 It's Tuesday Morning....

Oh, I guess you already knew that. Just thought I'd say so if you didn't. hehe.

Things are going well. After all I've been through for the past 10 months I am feeling MYSELF again. Ready and raring to go! And, go I will... but darn... it's another doctor appt. This time it's a checkup with the oncologist. 

But, first I will stop in at the March Birthday Party going on at noon today in the Commons Room. 

Sunday a small group met to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. We had all the Irish we could take. 😋The corned beef, cabbage, sauerkraut to make a rueben if you wished. Irish potatoes. Pies galore. I made a big bowl of green beans and they were soon gone. We wore green and just had a grand ole  time. 

A golden coin or two was hidden under the hats at each seating. If you got one .... you were lucky!! 

You got on the clean up crew! 😠

                                                                      It's Spring!!

Make it a happy one!

And The Fun Goes On!

 As you probably know already that my big birthday bash was postponed due to Covid. I had the intimate dinner with family on my actual birthday (Jan. 6th) but this one was to include my friends. Shirley outdid herself. I knew she would. It's in her genes!!! 

There were surprises for me and lots of great food, fun, music, a slideshow of my life playing on the tv. It was great and I appreciate my Dietz family so much for such a wonderful celebration.

                                                        The honoree's table! 

My family (daughter Shirley and her gang)

Some of the guests. 

   I'm about to dive into the 'goodies'. 

Grandson Kenny and wife Bethany provided this 'spread'. It was sooo good and looked so pretty.

Granddaughter Brittany did the fruit tray. I don't think I've ever seen one more beautiful or more tasty.

Shirley calling bingo. She replaced the numbers on bingo cards with facts about my life. That was a hoot. 

My request.... a German Chocolate texas-sized cupcake!

An Adventure in a Lifetime

 Man, it's foggy out there this morning! And, there is rain coming in soon. I wouldn't mind it so badly if I didn't have a dr. appt this morning. At least Shirley is coming to take me. 

Shirley is so funny. Although I am still very sharp (and can drive myself to the dr.)  she likes to go with me to the doctor appointments. 'Four ears are better than two', she says. And, she's probably right but I didn't invite her to go with me to my wellness check up and a routine followup with my surgeon and she was pouting about it. That girl!! What am I gonna do with her.!

I am still struggling at getting back on my normal routine - after all the visitors, Christmas, my birthday etc. This morning I noticed that all five of the large floral arrangements that I had received for my birthday were shot so I started throwing that out. Now, my floor is covered with bits of dried leaves, stems ... what a mess. I guess I should sweep it up. 😃

I have been looking at my granddaughter and her son's pictures from New York City. Susan, who lives near the city, and her 2 boys went with them. It was D's 13th birthday and his first trip to the City. 

My grandson and my great-grandson (the birthday boy looking out over the city) at the Edge in New York City. 

This photo I got from googling 'The Edge'

If you don't know what the Edge is... it's a platform projecting out of a building with slanted glass walls and a portion of the floor is glass so you can look straight down for 100 floors. I would imagine the feeling would be similiar to floating in space. it's high above the city. You ought to google it. Have any of you been? I was just wondering. It's not on my bucket list. 

Let The Party Begin!

                                                                                                                           Oh my Word!!!! 

What a birthday. The family started arriving Thursday night and again on Friday.

Saturday came. I had no idea what those kids were up to. Just knew we were going to dinner. I couldn't have been more surprised or pleased. 

Michael and I walked into Harper's Table (which I had never been to) and there was a long table set for all of us. Next to it was this adorable display table... 

My granddaughter, Yvonne, outdid herself with the details of every aspect of my party. 

The cake was incredible... white cake with lucious strawberry buttercream icing. 

Some of the family had not seen each other in years so there was a lot of catching up to do. 

and, of course there was a lot of laughter and fun.

It was an incredible birthday and one I will always cherish. 

And, guess what... Shirley had covid so her family was missing so there will be more to follow.. 

In fact, we have something planned for every month of this, my 90th year! 

Owen's Birthday Celebration

Let's get back to my trip to New York... 

My grandson, Owen, turned 30 the day I arrived in Rye. We waited until the weekend, though, to celebrate. As long as I can remember he has wanted to go to Abis Japanese Hibachi Restaurant in Greenwich, Ct. on his birthday. So, that's what we did. 

I celebrated with him at Abis only once before. That was in  2011. (picture below) 

                    We all are a bit older now,

Watching the chef slice the veggies, build the onion tower, light it all on fire. So much fun to watch.

Outside Abis 

  Of course, we had to stop for ice cream afterward. 

It's a Birthday Party

 Yesterday (Jan. 31st) we celebrated the birthdays that our residents had during the month of January. Mine was on the 6th.

I opened the door to the community room to the loud sounds of '70s music and happy chatter. The place was all decorated in the birthday theme. 

First we had pizza. Yum! 

We yakked and danced before the beautiful cake was sliced up and served. Everyone sang 'Happy Birthday' to us and we all enjoyed the cake and ice cream.

I felt like a kid again. 'cept my kid birthdays were pretty tame. After all, I was a Depression kid. 

As we left we were given a card, a balloon and a bag of goodies. It was just so much fun. 

More Birthday Fun

 We slept in.... I mean, what else would you do lying in a comfy bed 4 floors up listening to the waves crashing on the shore. The sun was out... hallelujah for that. So, we went out on the balcony to enjoy the last few minutes of our stay.

I've seen a dolphin or two from time to time but for my birthday I had a crowd of them swimming by. I bet we saw 3 dozen as they swam, rising up from the water every minute or two so that they could get air. Man, those buggers are so hard to photograph... they are quicker than lightning! So we got a few good shots of them. 

I was just so excited and amazed. Oh course I had my camera ready! I've missed being out taking pictures so much and this trip provided us with a lot of opts. 

And a lot of selfies. 

We were still not hungry from the night before so we decided to go shopping. I had been complaining that I hated my wardrobe. It's old, out dated, can't match a thing for an outfit. You ever get in that predicament? 

We two have a shopping system. Shirley pulls clothes she thinks that would look good on me while I try them on in the dressing room. We had a cartful of stuff. But, I didn't buy it all, I promise. Just a few pieces. he he

I mean, a birthday girl's gotta treat herself although I was just flooded with well wishes (and I do thank all of you so much who sent me happy birthday wishes), phone calls and gifts. 

All that shopping wore me out and my tummy needed breakfast so we headed to Jolly Rogers for some food. You'd wonder where in the world we put it but we did. 

Gee Whiz, we must be pigs! 

Then we headed home wishing we had booked the room for longer.

But, we'll be back.

On the way home we drive through the edge of the Dismal Swamp and I saw a beavers dam.

Another treat. 

Back to normal, doing laundry, packing away Christmas decorations. but, that's okay.

I had a blast! 

note: if you want to see the rest of my birthday bash click back one post.