Sweet Baby Love!

Left to right: Donna, Gina & Antoinette

I recently attended a baby shower for Gina, a beautiful young woman I know. She is the daughter of my dear friend Antoinette. There is always love surrounding Antoinette, Gina and Donna (Donna is Antoinette's younger daughter). They are very close, and it warms my heart to see the immense love within this family.

Antoinette hosted the baby shower for Gina. Donna was in charge of the fun activities we participated in, and the women at my table were full of giggles and smiles.

The gay festivities on that Sunday afternoon made me think of love, hugs and kisses. I saw everyone from family relations to friends hugging one another. It seems that women don't hesitate to embrace each other. It seems so natural, and it sincerely warms my heart. It is nice to shake hands with someone and covet their hands, however a hug represents the feelings of the heart coming through. It personalizes feelings. A hug gives and a hug gets at the same time.


The love in the room for Gina was evident beyond words. Approximately sixty women came together with love in their hearts to extend best wishes to Gina and Brian. I was teary-eyed at the love that was expressed so beautifully.

Love

We have had a great weekend! Allen and I drove to Burlington, Vermont to see Andrea (our neice) in a play. The other time spent was visiting with her. The play was "Twelfth Night" by William Shakespeare. It was a fantastic production! Andrea played Maria, and she play it with wit, fancy and tremendous talent. Her voice is like a songbird. Oh, how I wish you could hear it. I am sure it would awaken your senses as it did ours.

Andrea is smart, heartfelt, and beautiful inside and out. She cares for her family and friends, and puts them in a pot of love...and she nurtures that pot of love. She's quick to smile, and also has much empathy for others in their time of need. I have always thought of Andrea as a shining star, and she is... to all who know her.


Just look at that smile!


Andrea and Allen

Turning 90 and feelin' fine!

My Mother's Birthday day was a great day and night. She received cards, flowers and telephone calls from friends and relatives. So happy!

Her favorite cake is strawberry shortcake, and we had one made to order. (By the way, the strawberries from southern California were sweet.) Mom loved it!

Flowers from her friend and neighbor Nora graced my Mother's table on the eve of her birthday. There was another beautiful vase of flowers from my friends and neighbors...Theresa and Mary. lovely!

All of us need glasses to read, and my Mother at the age of 90 does not. Simply amazing.

Mom and her two sons: Dan on the left, and Ross on the right. Ross flew in from Arizona, and made my Mother a very happy Mom.

A family photo with my Father there in spirit. From the left is me (in black), my Mother, Ross in back, my sister Mariann in front, and Dan on the right.

I had to grab Ross for a photo.

Have you ever wished...

Have you ever wished you could meet two people that are so important in your life...but you are unable to?

I wish I could have met Allen's parents. The photos I have seen, and the stories and compliments I have heard, makes me almost feel as if I knew them. But not quite. I know they deeply loved their children, family and friends. They taught their children to open their eyes to the world around them. They strongly believed in education, and gave all four of their children many wonderful opportunities to explore education in schools, and in the world around them. They were progressive on many levels, travelled around the world and lived by example. And...they loved their Old English Sheep Dogs: Seymour first, then Charlotte, then Truffles. Allen's Father only allowed one bumper sticker on his car, and it read "Teach Peace". This gives me an inkling as to what he (Ed) was about. Allen's Mother was called "Twink". Her birth name was Emily, however, the name Twink stayed with her throughout her lifetime. I have a strong feeling it was because of her twinkling blue eyes. So sweet.

The wonderful and humorous stories Allen and his three siblings tell of days and years gone by are very beautiful and heartfelt. The memory of their parents sit in a big part of each of their hearts. Quite a legacy.