Pondside Thoughts...

Off to Florida for Dad's 90th

Just hours from heading to the airport for our flight to Florida to help Dad celebrate his 90th birthday. My favorite part of the preparation has been gathering stories and photos from family and friends to make a sweet memories book to commemorate the occasion.

Our small, but close family sent lovely little "love notes" talking about their memories of our frequent weekend barbecues and mom and dad's gracious, loving hosting on many happily spent summer days.  Amy made a photo montage page in the center of the book  and all the other pages are photos with accompanying writing.

My favorite of these is from Dad's big brother, Uncle G, who, at 92, has the memory of a young man.  I found a wonderful old photo of the two of them, Dad a serious little blond boy of about 6, and Uncle G, about 8, with his arm slung round Dad's shoulder, grinning, comfortable and confident. This really captures their relationship and their lives.  The story Uncle G gave me for the book reads in part,

"We shared a bed for many years in Mama's house on Sutter Avenue and we didn't have the same idea about when it was time to go to sleep. I liked to play big band music on my radio and you would yell at me to shut it off so you could get some sleep! You hated that music then, but you became a real music lover later on."

The party will be at the Marriott Harbor Beach on the shore in Fort Lauderdale - a beauty spot. There will be about 30 of  us. Dad's main request was for a DJ and lots of music. He really does love big band music, Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, et al. But he also likes the Macarena.  At 90 years old Dad says, "Really, the only time my legs don't hurt is when I'm dancing". 

Let us all be so blessed.

The Bachelorettes

  Sweet A’s beloved friend, Adorable D, is getting married in June and the bridesmaids gave her a bachelorette party last night. It was a wild night in the city from what I hear. Yesterday afternoon Sweet A and Crazy K dressed all in black with hoodies drawn tight around their faces and hid behind the restrooms at Hampton Beach, where Adorable D's fiancee, Trusty G, promised to deliver her. Not to be outdone by other transparent kidnapping ruses, A and K literally bagged D, tied her up with a rope, and put her in the car. (They had let hints drop so Adorable D would not freak out or have a heart attack or, worst of all, bite them, but apparently the kidnapping had its desired affect including screams, jumping back, and best of all, assuming a Ninja pose of defense). 

The day and evening went on to include a big limo with an entertaining driver, much drinking, a feisty, full participation visit to a female impersonator club, a blow up man doll named Tyrone who accompanied them around the city, more drinking, club dancing, more drinking, and collapse in the wee hours at a nice hotel in Cambridge. Needless to say when they arrived here at noon today they were badly in need of coffee. And food. They are a lovely, funny bunch of young women… just delicious. Here’s the menu:

Frittata made with asparagus, red pepper, onion, Emmenthaler, and Gruyere cheeses, eggs and Greek yogurt, with little cherry tomatoes squeezed out, cut in half and arranged around the top. It makes a lovely, light frittata with lots of flavor and nothing too shocking for a digestive system in a delicate state.

Also fresh orange juice, bagels, big fruit bowl with giant strawberries and blackberries, and coffee, LOTS of coffee.

Sweet A created a CD of their favorite music to play in the limo as they cruised around the city, beginning with, of course, Beyonce's "All the Single Ladies". She made a (legal) copy for each of the ladies and left them with me.  A CD was tucked into a little Easter basket filled with tiny Dove chocolates and gummy bears placed at each setting.

Having eaten and downed gallons of coffee, they are all mellow and dozing on the sofa in the living room, chatting away, laughing, wonderful sounds.

The house will be all too quiet when they leave all too soon.