What I've Done

I had not done anything with my youngest grandchild in quite a while, so I took him and his sister to the zoo. I admit I also wanted to see the butterflies before they left. It was sooo hot, I immediately began to question why I cared about the butterflies. My granddaughter Lily was also noticing the heat. She was fretting and pacing and asked me, Meme, are you hot, cause I'm hot! I'm having a hot flash!!! I laughed good....
I guess I announce that to her too often....the butterflies were awesome and we wanted one to light on our finger, but they didn't. Oh well...
The polar bears and seals did delight us. One seal swam down to me and stared right into my eyes. I think she was asking me to get her out of there. On we went to the polar bears and one of them noticed a young boy holding a red card up to the glass. He braced against the wall and then slammed into the glass. The crowd went crazy, so he did it over and over. We also rode the truck-train, as Forrest called it. As we rode, he noticed the Backyard burger booth and said, "Meme I want to go to a restaurant!!! I asked if he was hungry and he nodded. Poor thing, I was starving him. So, off the train to eat chicken strips, then to the playground....Yes, we go to the zoo to play on the jungle-gym!!! Did I mention how hot it was???? Yes, it was HOT, so I did what I thought I would never do...I let them get in the water/wading pool. What can I say, we were having a Hot Flash!

I Am Sixty Today

Today is my sixtieth birthday! I cannot say I welcome it, but as my mother said about her older birthdays, it is better than the alternative. I do not feel, in my mind, that I am sixty. It seems only yesterday that I was fifty.

I believe this was one of my BEST birthdays ever. It is due to my children, Bri, Shan, Kev and Amy who along with Max, Lily, and ForFor, gave me the most wonderful birthday party. They worked very hard to make it special for me, and indeed, it was.

The food looked like a gourmet feast. There was ham and rolls, olive dip on baguettes, tomato with mozzarella on crackers, bacon wrapped shrimp and asparagus, olives, fruit, and more that I don't remember at the moment. There were TWO desserts!! My favorite, CHOCOLATE!!!mousse, chocolate whip cream something that was to die for. And a blueberry cake, my next favorite. Enough of food. There were friends and family.

My brother and sister-in-law came from my hometown. My niece and nephew came with J and O. My friends from work came. All are dear to me. Words cannot begin to express what each one means to me.

My children gave me the most thoughtful gift of all. They know what my family home meant to me. My mother and I lived with my grandparents, so I was blessed with lots of love. I am also very sentimental. Tears are filling my eyes as I write. They conspired with my brother and had a painting of my home done for me. My brother provided details of what the house was like when I was growing up and lived there.
When I saw the picture, with everyone watching me, and I was nervous, at first I did not recognize it until Shannon said that it was my home in Paris. I laughed and said, whew, I thought this was where ya'll were sending me. My brother put his arm around me and said I was riding back with him. (like I was going to a nursing home) BOY, was I relieved when I looked and there was my home. Now, it will always be with me.

Thank you Brian, Shannon, Kevin, Amy, Max, Lily, and Forrest.
I love you all very much!