The Fork War: The Final Chapter

Last week I did an embroidery job for an old friend (remember the Fork War?). She needed a gift for a 90th birthday. I suggested a monogrammed pillowcase. Turns out, the birthday girl also loves to cook, so in addition to the pillowcase, I made an oven mitt.


During that same week, "Kevmeema"'s mother passed away after a lengthy illness. It was a really tough year for her. Even though I have never met her in person, I know that she is a really tough, strong woman; one that I admire.



A couple of days after I sent the package with the pillowcase and oven mitt, I received an email telling me that the package arrived as they were leaving the house to attend the funeral, and she didn't open it until the next day. Her email went on to compliment my "talent" and then she asked me what she owed me.



What price do you put on friendship? I felt that I owed her more than she owed me. She was always there when I needed someone to confide in. She helped me brainstorm when I started my business. She made brochures for me. She gave me ideas, incentives, encouragement to try, when I had less confidence in myself than she had in me-someone she hardly "knew". Once, she even helped me accept a new chapter in my life when The Kid was born and I became a grandmother!



I asked that she make a donation to her Mom's favorite cause...The Jersey Shore Animal Center, in Brick, NJ, where they had requested memorial donations in her mom's name. I expected negotiations to begin but I guess she realized how futile that would be. She agreed and I was happy; it was a done deal!



Two days later, a package arrived at my house. Since I was expecting a shipment of handkerchiefs from a supplier. I put the package in my sewing studio without looking at it. Several days passed before I noticed that it wasn't from the supplier, but from Kevmeema!



Somehow I just knew what was inside, even before I opened the package. I knew that she would think of something so special; that's the kind of lady she is. So, I carefully ripped the paper off and yanked the top off the box and threw it on the floor. Inside was the nicest gift I have ever received. A gift from

the best friend I never met.

The forks have come full circle and so has a wonderful Internet friendship--one that must certainly evolve soon.

But one thing, E, it is YOU who is a special lady!

Tag! I'm "it"!

I've been tagged! Not by just anyone, either! I was tagged by Just an Old fashioned Gal.

I know Marialena, personally and I can vouch for her being an old fashioned gal. She is also someone I call friend. We may not be "hang-out-together-do-lunch" type girlfriends, but she is definitely someone that I am proud to know. We have had more than a few encounters but this is one of my favorites:

This HAS to give you some idea what a hoot she can be! I love her!

Now, on to the tagging thing (which I can also credit her for teaching me).

Here are the rules:
1-Link to your tagger and list the rules
2-List 5 random facts about yourself
3-Tag 5 people
4-If you're tagged, play along and pass it on!

Here's the link to that fabulous life that I warned you would come up now and again:

1-I was an only child for 16 years but I am not the typical spoiled brat (I never lie, either)

2-I have been happily married for 36 years to my High School Sweatheart (and they said it wouldn't last. The secret? He travels....a lot!)

3-I've been to more countries than United States; not terribly proud of that (even though I had some really great times) but I am working on changing that next Spring

4-I went back to college at 47 and graduated summa cum laude; not like that woulda happened when I was 20!

5-I have very few friends my own age; most are more than 10 years younger than me. Who wants to hang out with old people anyway?

Ok, now this is the fun part....I am tagging:
Superbef
Taking Chances
Mrs T Rod

This is as far as I go. I am still so new to the blogging world that I don't really know anyone else well enough to intrude upon them. Jeez! I hope those that I did impose upon, don't mind!

The Hostage Situation

I guess it isn't very nice to refer to one's family as "Hostage Takers", is it?

Years ago, my grandmother came to visit after the birth of my second child. She arrived with a car trunk full of suitcases and stayed for weeks. My uncle said she took us hostage in our own home. To this day, Big Daddy refers to that visit as "The Hostage Situation".

Well, this past weekend, my aunt (my mother's sister) and uncle came to visit my parents for a few days. My mom invited us to come for Sunday brunch, before they left to go home. Big Daddy said we were going to negotiate the "Hostage Situation".

I was thrilled to see them all together; it doesn't happen often. Not that they don't want to, it just doesn't happen due to distance, different schedules, etc., maybe even a little pig-headedness (ie. "But, I called her last"). I think that if they made a little more of an effort, it could be done. Afterall, my mom goes in her direction on road trips to the Finger Lakes, and my aunt comes to Atlantic City occasionally (and AC is not far from my mom; certainly not in relation to the 3 hour drive it takes her to get there!) Neither of them stays put for long-funny because they called my grandmother "One-foot-out-the-door-Mabel"!

It is sad that we sometimes have to make such an effort to get together. I think it should be a natural occurance...Oh, like Earthquakes??

My aunt, My mom, & me at my mom's house

NOTE: I loved having my grandmother stay with us! Even if it meant gaining half a ton eating her incredible cooking!

The Fork War

A few years back, I was really into collecting antique china and silver. It didn't have to match; that's what makes it interesting.

I fell in love with Occupied Japan and couldn't get enough of it. So, I collected, and collected; as much as I could find. Ebay was a great source.
After I had collected enough china, I began looking at silver. Forks, knives, spoons, demitasse, butter knives, ladles, muffineers, napkin rings.... You name it, I had to have it. And it HAD to be silver.

One day, I found some forks. They were beautiful, they were silver, and they were mine! (At least in my mind they were mine!) They were all I needed to complete my set, allowing me to be able have 12 dinner guests. I could feel them in my hands. I could see them on my table!

I put my bid in. I waited. I watched. No competition.
The last day of the auction, still no bids, and I had to leave the house, something I never do on the last day of an auction. I felt confident that I would be eating with my new forks later that week.

When I returned and checked the auction, someone else had bid against me and stole my forks! I was so disappointed! But for some strange reason, I was calm! Later, I would learn why.
At the time, ebay allowed users to use their email addresses as bidder names. I noticed that the thief winning bidder had an AOL address. I don't know what possessed me but, I immediately added the name to my AIM list and IMed her/him (?).

"I had to leave the house today," I said, "or those forks would be mine!"

Holding my breath, I waited for the response. I really expected to be ignored or worse; get a nasty response. Instead, I got the old, "LOL"!

So, I responded with some other witty retort and ended up having a nice, long conversation with a really nice lady who, it turned out, lives a little more than an hour from me! We continued to have conversations for days, then weeks, months....

It has been years now (I can't even remember how many) and we still laugh about the forks. Things happen. Life interferes. Children get married, grandchildren are born, loved ones pass on, houses are sold, spouses get sick. But we continue to be Internet friends. We laugh about the forks. We exchange birthday, anniversary, and Christmas cards. We laugh about the forks. We exchange confidences. We laugh about the forks. Someday we will meet.

"Kevmeema" is one of the best friends that I have never met! Sometimes, it takes being a loser to become a winner!

I survived the NY Subway!

Wow! The kid's first day of school took a lot out of me. I needed a week to recover. Ok, 2 weeks.

On Monday, I took Big Daddy to see a Yankee's game. The Yankees are his favorite team; Mickey Mantle, his idol. So, when he mentioned that he was sad that he had never actually seen them play, I decided to buy us some tickets and journey to the Bronx before the stadium came tumbling down.

He was so excited to be going to see his team play; I was excited to be going into Manhattan for lunch!

Ok, so I amthe typical tourist; shoot me! Oh never mind, by the looks of this picture, somebody already did!

We took the NJTransit from Hamilton, into Penn Station. Then we went up to the street to walk around a bit and have some lunch before descending into the dark hole known (to me, anyway) as the New York Subway.

The trip wasn't as bad as I had imagined, even though I had to stand and hang on for dear life; swinging and swaying like a pole dancer. When we ascended the stairs, the street was alive with tourists and Yankees fans, all taking pictures of the new stadium. There it was in all it's glory.

The new Yankees Stadium

We wandered around under the train tracks, looking at t-shirt shops, hat shops....Big Daddy didn't want one of "those" hats; he wanted one from inside!

So whatever Big Daddy wants, Big Daddy gets...

Um, no, you cannot have a hat like Mickey Rivers'.Outside the stadium, somebody painted on a wall in a parking lot. This shot shows Mickey Mantle (L) and Joe DiMaggio (R)Here's the whole gang:

Inside the stadium, here's another gang:

Yup, this is as close as we got to Monument Park. They only allow so many people through there at each game! How fair is that? :::note sarcasm::: Before the game started, I took a bunch of pictures and I will not even attempt to tell you who these guys are but if you are a baseball fan, Big Daddy said you would know.

FOUL BALL!!

This guy comes in, late, toting a bag and a toddler. Who takes a 3 year old to a ballgame?!Oh, perhaps when the 3 year old is a huge fan? This kid was so excited, he almost lost his PB&J! He was my favorite part of the game.Some of the Yankees fans are crazy! You'd never catch Philadelphia fans doing anything like this!

Hmmph! The Phillies will disagree!

Kindergarten!

Today was The Kid's first day at Kindergarten! He was all set since he had already gone to pre-school last year. He loved it then and he loves it, still!

While waiting for the bus, the neighbor came by with his company vehicle. The kids loved it!
Saying goodbye to Mom.
Here comes the bus!
7 hours later; home from a hard day at the office.

Another fun day with THE KID

I have been wanting to go to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire for a few years now and when I got the email about Children's Weekend, I thought, "Yeah, 2 birds; one stone".

Whoa! People actually come dressed like gypsies, maidens, wenches, etc (body parts busting from their garb, and all...makes for a hard time hiding the tatoos!). Whole families. I couldn't help but feel sorry for some of the children who's moms dressed these poor little darlings in velvet and leather clothing in the sweltering August heat! What the heck is wrong with people?

We were first met by some really tall guys.

Then there were some pretty ladies.

Gotta love these outfits: The Kid had more fun than The PopPop on the swinging boat!

But they both had fun on the elephant! $15!?!?!?!?!?!???? WHAT?????

Ok, so this kid was cute:

The horses were a big hit. Yeah, I was there, too....making sand art (woohoo!).
In any event, The Kid had fun that day but The PopPop sure was beat when it was over.

God, I love having this kid all to ourselves!