But Wait. There's More!
But Wait. There's more!The next evening, as Mom and I were watching TV, in walks my sister Susanne - all the way from Boston, man, her legs must have been tired! I haven't seen Susie in a long time, longer than my mom. And wow, I had them both here for my birthday, all to myself!
Sunday, everyone got dressed up to "go over to Lara's for a birthday lunch." Uh-huh. More like Lara's large community club house, filled with family, friends, food, and 50 cheerful red helium balloons. As my eyes fell on each face around the room, my heart swelled with gratitude for the kindness of their presence here for me, and for a life lived long enough to hold them all. There were people I knew "way back when," when our children were so little. Those children are now amazing adults - amazing enough to dream up and execute this party, to love so fully they now have their own children, lots of them. There were four generations of my family there; there were new friends and old, young marrieds, geezers,
... and lots of love. 
As if that were not enough, Mary had sent out questions to the guests and beyond. She 
collected the answers and she and Ian put together a "memory book" for me. Some of the voices in that book I have not heard for a decade. Here's a sampling of the questions and answers:My favorite thing about Carrie is...
"...the way that she reflects the world to others. Her prismatic penchant for painting poetic portraits of the things she encounters with an inimitable palette of imagery and literary courage is a thing of beauty."
The funniest thing I ever saw Carrie do was when she...
"... stood at her mailbox on Scott Drive and yelled to the mailman, "I love you!" as she opened the letter congratulating her on the publication of her book."
The happiest I've ever seen Carrie is...
"...canoeing down a river with the sun on her back."
The most memorable moment with Carrie is ...
"... swimming in the Shenandoah River in late August with her and Seattle on our Girl Weekend Retreat."
Carrie is important to me because ...
"..she is my adopted godmother and has been there for me for the majority of my life!"
List 5 word that describe Carrie...
"Joyful, Loving, Optimistic, Generous, Fun."
And oh my goodness, there is even more. My son and daughters colluded to pilfer dozens of pictures of me at all stages of my life - from a few days old, to the present. They scanned them, and put them together in a looping slide show that brought "ohhhs," "ahhs," giggles, tears and memories to any of the party guests who viewed the parade of images. They remembered, with me, how rich and full life has been.And of course, there were the gifts, the hugs, the conversations, the blessings, the cards and good wishes. This milestone birthday and the love lavished on me from near and far made me feel so affirmed, so valued, that I am actually looking forward to the next 50 years.
What a gift. Thank you everyone. And especially my children, of whom I am so proud and to whom I bow in homage for the beautiful people you are.
Thank you all.
Copyright (c) 2007
You're the best mom I've ever had. I don't know what I'd do without your counsel, your laughter, and your hugs. You deserve every great surprise you got on your birthday weekend. Congrats also go out to Dad and God for finding you and getting you two together. Your legacy is already great, and it continues to grow. Thanks for everything!
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