36 years ago, today

As I sit on my back porch enjoying my morning cup of tea, I am reflecting over the past 36 years.

August 26, 1972 wasn't as cool as it is today, in fact, it was an ungodly hot and humid day that year. Hurricane Agnes had left a mark on many that year.

My DH's best man was unable to make it to the wedding because of the devastation done to his family's home (as well as those of everyone else in the town of Wilkes Barre, PA.)

When I woke up that morning, I was excited, as any bride would be on her wedding day. The sun was out and shining brightly. As the morning progressed, it became a little overcast but I wasn't even concerned. We came home from getting our hair done and I began the challenge of "getting beautified". In those days, I was still in full makeup mode at all times (false eyelashes included) but today, it had to be even more special. I remember coming from the bathroom to show everyone my makeup and I noticed that the drapes had been drawn closed in my room. When I asked why, I was told that the sun was shining in so brightly that the girls couldn't see to fix their own faces. Little did I know at the time, that my dutiful 'maids' thought they were protecting me from the ugly truth outside; It was pouring buckets!
Little did they know that I couldn't have cared less! It was my wedding day and nothing could spoil it. Nothing else mattered. OMG! Look at those dresses!

When the photographer finished with the family shots inside the house, we opened the door to leave and the rain had slowed to a drizzle. Barely noticeable drops were few and far between.

By the time I settled into the back seat of (now here is one of those times I warned you about; when you become jealous of my fabulous life) our friend's brand new black Grand Prix, the sky opened up again, and poured all the way to the church.

When I reached the church, the rain slowed enough to get inside after which it began storming once again!

Then it happened; a thunderbolt so loud and so close that the electric went out in the church which meant....no music! Horrors! My organist was a friend and he was so disappointed. Luckily, my mother's friend jumped up and ran to the piano and saved the day. Or so she thought. I held out hope that the lights would come back on and my friend could play. We waited as long as we could and finally, started the procession for the girls. Just as I reached the doors, the lights came back on and the organ started up again! The ceremony went on while the sun shone through the stained glass windows of the sanctuary. It was beautiful!

The rain held out for the receiving line and throwing of the rice (which I subsequently picked from my hair for 2 days!). While we were inside doing some more pictures, the rain came, but only long enough for the pictures and then it stopped again while we were in the car going to the reception.

Once inside the (Washington Crossing) Inn, I didn't care any more!

The night was wonderful and at the end, you could hardly even tell it had rained at all!
So, I guess it's true what they say; "Rain and sunshune on your wedding day is lucky!"

Wow! Have we changed much?

Swirl, Baby!

I have been really busy this week; thus the reason for my slacking, again!

This group of ladies I know have been busy preparing a "care package" for one of our own.

T was on vacation and went into pre-term labor. Within hours, Baby T was welcomed into the world. Her weight was 2lbs 10oz and she was 14 inches and her gestational age was 28 weeks 3 days!

BabyT was flown to Cooper University Hospital's NICU where she remained for 18 days. While we were preparing the package, Baby T stabilized and was transferred to a hospital closer to her home; a good sign that things are progressing nicely. This news was a good thing in more ways than one. Mom and Dad live about 45 minutes away.

Anyway, I decided to contribute some handmade, custom baby items. I looked up the nursery registry and tried to "copy" the bedding as best I could. What do you think?

There is an "inside joke" that I wanted to capture as well:

I have one more thing to finish before I wrap this project up and mail it off so I am going to get to it!

Strange day in the city

Today I had to go into the city to dispute a parking ticket. No problem.

I asked my friend to go with me so we could do a little shopping and have lunch on Rittenhouse Square. Good idea.

Well, at the parking authority office, we had to go through the same kind of security that you go through at the airport. (We (tried) to make a joke about where our plane was loading and where we were going but the "security guard" had no sense of humor.) I was told it would be an hour before I had my turn so we decided to head over to Reading Terminal Market for a cup of tea. My friend went to tell the security man who then asked her if either of us had any vaseline in our "big bags"! Why would anyone ask such a question? It seems he had a big sore on his lip and I didn't even want to know about it. Talk about being 'skeeved out'! I couldn't even look in his direction on my way out. When we came back, my friend went around the corner to a dollar store while I went back inside to wait my turn (which I had missed). When I came out from my hearing (which I won hands down), the security man was standing at the door with some white cream around his lips! My friend got him some antibacterial cream at the Dollar Store! I left, still unable to look him in the face!

We headed on down the the center of town and did a little shopping along the way. I got some great things on sale but that's another day!

So, we went to have lunch at the newest Stephen Starr restaurant, Parc. In case you live under a rock and never get out, Stephen Starr is the number one restaurateur in our "City of Brotherly Love". We worked our way through the crowd that was gathering, to the hostess and told her which seat we wanted; up front and with the best view of the Square. While we dined al fresco, I daydreamed of years ago, when I would come to visit my aunt who lived on the 19th floor of 1900 Rittenhouse, and sharing lunch at the Art Alliance, when ladies still wore hats & gloves, and membership was required.

Our lunch was excellent and we enjoyed everything about it (including the cute waiter who we both wanted to adopt). While we were looking over the dessert menu, my friend began giggling. When I asked what was so funny, she nodded toward the ladies having lunch behind me. We had just commented on how "put together" they looked with their outfits and accessories when she noticed one of the women's ultimate accessory; a long stream of toilet paper hanging from below her jacket, obviously tucked into the waistband of her skirt. (Did I mention that these ladies were well into their golden years?) The longer she looked, the more my friend giggled as the paper began blowing in the breeze. Every time someone walked by, the paper waved at us like a muleta; the red cape that a matador flaps at the bull to draw its attention.

I couldn't let her just sit there like that! So I went over to tell her, but I just couldn't bring myself to touch it! She tried to reach back to find it but couldn't. So, she sat there (I think she thought I was lying to her) and finished her lunch all the while, that TP was flapping in the breeze!

Then it happened! She got up and started walking to the ladies' room! There it was, hanging in all its glory; that stream of TP. Her lunch companion looked horrified and she caught the eye of the gentleman (and I DO mean gentleman) seated next to them. He saw what she was looking at and he jumped from his seat and plucked the elusive TP from the lady's back and made it disappear like magic! Chivalry is not dead!

As we left the restaurant, I stopped at their table and told them to enjoy the rest of their day! I'm sure they did! As did I.

Ok, so I am not the nice person you thought I was; The devil made me do it!

A most fun day at the beach

The husband & I decided to take a day and go to the beach with Gson. I forgot how much fun it is to be at the beach with a little one.

I really did not expect what happened, since he just began getting his face wet. Little by little, he went into the water.Ok, that wasn't too bad. The water was actually really nice even though it wasn't very hot at the beach.

Sometimes it's hard getting a great shot at the beach!By the end of the first hour, he was body surfing! I almost had a heart attack a few times.

After lunch, we went to the amusement park, on the boardwalk. Pop-Pop took him up the slide and he said he wanted to go alone! (I think Pop-Pop was a little disappointed!) So, I gave them some more tickets so they could go again...together.

Not sure who laughed harder.

After we spent all of our tickets at the park, we went to see Lucy the Elephant.

The walk up the winding steps was hard (and a little scary) but the view at the top was worth it!

I can't wait to go to the beach again. I may make it a weekly habit!

8-8-08 lucky? It was a sad, sad day for many.

About an hour after I posted about Gson's birthday party, I was ready to go to take D out to lunch. (She's the friend who's husband was in hospice.) Before I left the house, I called her office and I was told that she had left. When I reached her, she told me that the doctor had called to tell her that Doug's oxygen level was dropping rapidly. That could only mean one thing.

My husband and I went to the hospital as soon as he came home. I didn't really know what to expect but I just knew that I had to be there for D. She is one of those people that you can't help but love, and she has always been there when I needed someone to lean on or confide in.

When we arrived, Doug's family was there and D was crying and holding Doug's hand. He was in a coma by then and on oxygen; his breathing very labored. The doctors told us that he would not see the next day.

D came around and started talking about fun things that we had all done together and times that we remembered. There was a bulletin board with pictures of all of their trips; more fun remembering. Our best memory was of our trip to Italy last year.

After a couple of hours (which seemed like days), we said goodbye to Doug. I kissed him and told him I loved him. I would never forget him.

He held on until noon the next day...8-8-08....the Chinese 'lucky' day. Doug would be amused by this; he was always trying to Feng Shui something (or someone) and consulting our "I Ching'.

Doug was one of the most interesting and fun people I have ever known...he will certainly be missed by many.

"There's no way around grief and loss: you can dodge all you want, but sooner or later you just have to go into it, through it, and hopefully come out the other side. The world you find there will never be the same as the world you left."

Johnny Cash

Did I mention the party?

Grandson turned five and we, naturally, had a party; About a thousand people came.

Since he had started school this year, he had invited some of his classmates; all girls! The kid is a chick magnet! They love him. One in particular, loves to "take care of him" by leading him around and making sure he gets on the bus, etc. I think we had better keep a close eye on her!

Isn't she adorable?

So, they came to the party and left, looking like raisins! I think they only got out of the water long enough to eat cake.

Ok, so they also got out to open gifts.

AND....One of the highlights of the day was Pop-Pops ice cream. Where else can you go to a party and get your own pint (yes, pint) of ice cream?!
My lovely mother and my beautiful daughter didn't go near the water. My mom said her bathing suit has a hole in it's knee! Well, in any event, I think she looks pretty darn good for almost 80!
In all, it was a good day. We even had a surprise visit from my brother-in-law and his family whom we have not seen in about 4 years. It took about 5000 hours to clean up but in the end, it was worth it to have friends and family around.

Now, if my daughter would only have some kids so we can have more parties!

Go Fish!

My grandson is a little fish suddenly! Last week, he wouldn't even get his face wet and now he is diving underwater!

It's strange how kids lose the courage (over winter) that they had gained during the summer. Last year, he would jump into my arms from the side of the pool. This year, it was as if he had never been in a pool. I had semi-arranged for swimming lessons at our house, but before I finalized the deal, he was jumping into water over his head! It is equally strange how quickly they regain that courage.

I never grow tired of watching him. He doesn't even wait to take his clothes off! His favorite swim suit is, "my undies!". Good thing we have our own pool!

Finesse

Finesse is the name of my 'business'. I say 'business' (in quotes), because it is really more of a hobby than a job. I love creating pretty things. When planning my daughter's wedding, I realized how much demand there is for personalized gifts, and so Finesse was born.

That was four years ago and I still love it.

One of the most touching gifts I have made was for Becky, who wanted something special for her sister-in-law-to be. This bride was to be married in Punta Cana and was to be surrounded by all those who was important to her, except the most important person; her father.

This is what we came up with. It is the bride's and groom's names and wedding date over her father's monogram. I think it is a lovely sentiment and Becky later told me that her new sister-in-law loved it.
Another bride wanted a handkerchief for her groom that had their monogram on it.

This is the more typical design...
...but I really like working with a customer to make something unique, just for them.

The real reason behind my first post...

Last night, I received a phone call from my dear friend D, who's husband is dying.

This isn't news. We have known for some time. It simply hit home today.

D's husband came home from work one day last August and his speach was slurred. She rushed him to the hospital, fearing a stroke. It turned out to be a brain tumor.

D is petrified to drive in the city so she called me and I ran right to the hospital to take her to Jefferson Hospital, to where they were transferring her husband.

A year hasn't even passed, and 3 surgeries and 2 rounds of chemo/radiation later, he is now in hospice. My friend spends every free minute by his bedside, at the Nursing Home. She only goes home to sleep (which she admits, is very infrequent) and let the dogs out.

He is slipping away fast now, and it made me realize that while we all know life has no guarantees, we need to make the best of every minute we do have.

I cannot afford to continue to procrastinate.

I'm such a slacker!

When I signed on to this blog thing, I really did intend to, at least, put down some thoughts now and then.

So, what is my problem? It seems to reach far into my life....Procrastination; a type of behavior characterized by deferment of actions to a later time; a mechanism for coping with the anxiety associated with starting (or completing) any task. Anxiety from completing a task???????????

I procrastinated long enough on this task. Maybe if I really apply myself to it, I can stop putting off all of the other tasks I have begun, and left to hang, by making myself accountable for my actions...or lack thereof.