Adventure 453: The Story of George/Mother's Day/Birthday Month, 49

Mother's Day, 2018

Real time found George snuggling up to a pretty girl. What else? Ronda, his long time neighbor and surrogate caregiver, came up from Madras to attend the Baptism of her grand child. She stayed with us, which is always fun, although her schedule had her out and about for most of the weekend. She paid a visit to George on Sunday before she left. At first he didn't recognize her, but as soon as she started talking he did. I wasn't there, but Ronda reported that while frail, she thought George looked good, much better than she expected. She hadn't seen him in nearly seven months. She's an angel disguised as a blond. She watched over George and Margaret, and then George after Margaret passed. She drove them to appointments, mowed the lawn, and generally kept an eye on them. And if you knew George, you'd know he lights up like a light bulb around the pretty girls, so I'm not at all surprised that he knew Ronda once she started talking, and I'm sure that his memory is filled with her love for him. Maybe his smile gives it away.

As for us, we had a Mother's Day extravaganza coupled with an early birthday celebration (I turn 67 on May 15). Leticia came over, which always warms her mother's heart. They baked rhubarb pie, German chocolate cupcakes, and TC made a Spanish tortilla for the pre-dinner feast. I then prepped the ingredients for the Paella, and Leticia, Judy, and I made two big pans full. Steve, Bonnie, Emily, and Sarah showed up just before 6. We enjoyed dinner and dessert. Emily played happy birthday to me on her violin. It was fun. We're heading up to my cousin's place at Priest Lake Monday with our friends the Ulmen's. Our work reason is to get the classic two seat wooden deck chair so we can rebuild it. Dave also wants to remeasure the stairway because he's determined to put a cherry railing on the rod iron staircase which is a fifteen foot tall spiral. He wants to steam bend one piece of cherry, which sounds impossible to me, but is exactly the thing Dave likes to challenge himself with. I have no reason to doubt him. Our other reason for going to the lake (as if I ever need one.) is to help distract Dave and Liz from his lung cancer battle. What better way than to put him to work? We'll also look for morels, enjoy nature, enjoy each other, and generally have a good time. So, seriously, life IS good, especially today.

 Spanish torta. YUMMMMMMMM!

 Mom and daughter cooking. Libby was on face time for most of the afternoon as well.

 Rhubarb pies.

 Paella.

 Half of the crew.

The other half; Steve caught unaware.

 Birthday month. That's a six with seven cupcakes totaling a sweet sixty-seven.

 Emily getting ready for her serenade. Sarah photo bombiing.

 Emily, pleased with herself.

 Mom and daughter.

And finally,  just a couple of fish faces.