The Day We Went 'Round the Bend

Last week something pretty special happened. In fact, something rather extraordinary... My Mom celebrated her 95 years on the planet.

Think about that. 95 years. That's almost a century. Can you imagine the joy, the heartache, the love, the loss, the changes she has seen in her lifetime? The wisdom we can glean from her?

We asked her what she wanted to do to celebrate. She lives in a nice retirement community (still living independently in her own apartment and cooking and baking and sewing for the world - literally.) She wanted to host a party for her friends and family. And so we did.

And there was cake. A big cake.

Which was good because almost 100 people turned out. How 'bout that? A person for just about every year Mom has been on Earth. 

Four of her five children were there; my sister wasn't feeling well and couldn't make the trip.  We missed her...  But the four that were there each gave a little tribute to Mom and I think my brother said it best when he said, "We know why Mom's still here at 95. Because God's not done with her yet! She has more people to take care of!"  

So many people asked Mom what the secret to her longevity was... her response was always the same.  "Stay busy." I touched on that in my tribute to her - saying I hope I inherited her longevity gene because I have always taken Mom's advice about "staying busy" to heart. I need a couple of lifetimes to pursue all my interests!

Two days later on her actual birthday (September 24th) part of the family joined her for a scenic train ride.

Mom waiting for the train with her favorite son-in-law.

Ok. Her only son-in-law.

We went 'round the bend.

And we saw birds.

And canyons 120 feet straight down. Gulp.

I had time to chat with my sister. Who is uber cool.

And my brother who likes to photo bomb.

We were dubbed "The Rowdy Bunch."  

(You will notice who can't quite unplug. Ever. 

Yup, that's the Mister and me with our phones in our hands.)

I don't have a clue why.

It was a goofy, fun, wonderful way to make new memories 

on the day she turned 95...

Tech Free Freedom!

Have you ever left home and forgotten your phone?  And by the time you realized it it wasn't worth it to go all the way back home to get it?  And you kinda' felt naked?

That happened to me yesterday.  The Birthday Boy and I were stepping out for just a short time ~ a drink at one of our favorite Cherry Creek North haunts (when I strike it big I still say we're moving to Cherry Creek North!) and picking up what we want to make for Birthday dinner at the super duper fancy dancy King Soopers in Glendale.  You know - the huge one that has everything including a nicely-stocked liquor store.  That's unusual in Colorado so the one-stop shopping is a real treat.

So on our way there I realized I had no phone.  Oh nos!  How will anyone know I've checked in at Hillstone?  I can't post a photo of the birthday duck and my chardonnay and Charlie's vodka tonic on Facebook!  No one will be able to comment on what a great time I must be having!  I can't check my email!  (You will notice I wasn't concerned about missing any phone calls...)

Once I recovered from my mini panic attack and sat back and relaxed I realized this was kind of nice.  Look at me, actually giving my full attention to my husband (and we had some pretty interesting things to talk about!).  We chatted up our sweet bartender, Jordie, who much to our surprise (because we don't see her often) remembered exactly what we drink (right down to the Frank Family chardonnay I drink there and nowhere else).  She even bought our drinks in honor of Charlie's birthday.

No one knew when I checked into King Soopers or what we bought for our Birthday dinner (ribeye for him and wild tuna for me).  It was a totally unconnected, technology free afternoon.

So am I saying I'll leave my phone home more often?  

Are you crazy?  No way!

It being Easter Sunday and all you know I had to do it (and I just realized this has ended up being yet again another bird-related post)...

Mornin' PEEPS!
(ala Lensbaby 2.0)

Birthdays and Aging and History

It's my sweetie's 54th birthday today.  The 22nd one I've spent with him.  So that thing I said about time being fleeting.  Hell yes it is.  Wow.

He was actually 31 when I met him; but as we were learning about each other and he discovered I was 36 he lied and said he was 36, too.  He turned 32 a month later and I think I began to suspect something was amiss then.  By that time it didn't matter.  I was too far gone.

When I met him he was younger than both my sons are now in 2013.  That is how fricking fast time goes.  (They are 36 and 33 now.)  And yet ~ I don't feel much older than when we met.  Of course, looking in the mirror reality smacks me upside the head on that one. 

Thinking about aging always brings to mind a line from "Meet Joe Black." Anthony Hopkins (as William Parrish) toasts the crowd assembled for his birthday saying, "And I'm going to break precedence and tell you my one candle wish:  that you would have a life, as lucky as mine where you can wake up one morning and say, 'I don't want anything more.' 65 years, don't they go by in a blink?"

And to that I say ~ hell yes they do.  

So Charlie and I are going to take a big bite out of life today.  Or at least go to lunch.  After work.  And maybe start planning that 20th Wedding Anniversary vacation ~ because that happens this year, too.  Wouldn't that be loverly...

I caught these geese gliding by the kitchen window early this AM as I prepared breakfast for Cry Baby Ranch (aka A-choo).  Her nickname is another story for another day.  

So, Mornin' Peeps!