Behind the scenes in Maryland and Virginia, a group of cousins (and their respective parents) were hard at work preparing a celebration in honor of a special woman. Mom, Maw Maw and Aunt Margy are a few of her popular monikers. And as we gathered to celebrate her 75th birthday, we were all reflecting on what she’s meant to us.
Both my grandmothers played a larger-than-life role in my growing-up years. Maw Maw introduced me to baking, helping me patiently press out sugar cookies when I was as young as 2 or 3. One of my earliest memories is of standing in her kitchen with flour covering the counter, my little hands covered in sticky dough. She introduced me to peanut butter cups, Red Hots candy and tomato sandwiches (for breakfast). She helped me learn to try new things, exercise some patience (oh, the never-ending torment) and, best of all, to always try to get along with my sister.
Maw Maw was always patient, never had an agenda; if my sister and I wanted to spend hours playing a single game, she would happily oblige. Her house was always fragrant, like springtime, and I loved hearing stories about my dad running down the narrow hallway growing up. A large coloring book was hidden beneath the couch, and you would never dare utter an “I’m bored” at her Maryland home. There was always something to do, somewhere to go.
It’s funny the random, visceral moments that return to you later in life: the easy way I can recall the fresh, summery smell of the backyard when we would visit in June or July. The sound of crickets chirping as we wandered through the grass, admiring Maw Maw’s frog statue in the yard. Eating Pop-Ice on the back porch and watching “Strawberry Shortcake” on beta tape. Peering down the well near the driveway, and asking Maw Maw for sticks of wintergreen gum.
Even years later, I can remember walking into her cool-tiled kitchen and reaching up for my favorite drinking glass. Sneaking candy from her cabinets. Admiring the trinkets in a nearby hutch, and watching her pull family photos from drawers in the living room.
Everything I remember is through a child’s eyes.
On April 7, we celebrated Maw Maw’s 75th birthday with a surprise party. I’ve never helped orchestrate a surprise party — or any party, really. And it was awesome. Though my hat is off to my organized and awesome cousin, Karen, for doing the lion’s share of the arrangements, the small parts I contributed — like the tulip table decor — were so fun to put together. Save friends’ wedding and baby showers, I’ve never had a hand in planning an event — and I felt like I was doing a trial run for a reception. Everything went smoothly.
It was wonderful sharing happy memories and celebrating a lady who has had such an impact on our lives. Seeing Maw Maw’s surprised face — and she really did seem surprised — was priceless. Having so many generations of family together created a warm atmosphere, and I’m so thankful we could all be together.
I’m also thankful to be Margy’s granddaughter. May the good times only get better.
So like any good bookish cousin, my mom and I ran into Books-A-Million a few weeks back looking for a great novel to bestow upon my newly-teen relative. The selection process was daunting. Do I pick something frothy and light, or grab a book with a little more substance? I wasn’t comfortable picking up anything for her that I haven’t read myself, so that narrowed down my choices in the young adult novel aisle. While my YA reading list is always expanding, there are still so many great books I simply haven’t gotten around to yet.
To say the last few weeks have been busy would be a gross understatement (gross, I tell you!). Birthday season is always action-packed, but I’ve been enjoyed every minute of it! My baby sister turned 21 last Thursday and we made a trek to the Newseum in Washington, D.C. once more to check out the history of journalism and see all the cool exhibits. We had lunch at the Elephant & Castle — a British-style pub we love — and then had dinner at Clyde’s, which was awesome. Their fantastic blondie (and the birthday girl) are pictured at right!
I was proud that I’d “stepped out of my comfort zone” and made strides toward becoming a new, balanced and more relaxed me. I’m heading to another friend’s pool party this weekend, and I even broke down and bought a new suit! Of course, considering it’s almost August, I had a hard time finding anything decent . . . but that’s my own fault for being so inhibited for so long, I suppose!
Yesterday found my mom, sister and I walking around an antiques show at our old high school, and logically my eye immediately went to any old books that seemed to be hanging around. I had a vague, ridiculous notion that maybe I’d find an antique copy of one of Jane Austen’s works at a crazy low price, but that didn’t happen! What we did find was a small, worn copy of a children’s book I haven’t seen or thought of in more than a decade — The Little China Pig. First published in 1969, my grandmother would read to Kate and me as kids from a copy that belonged to my mom and aunt! I got so excited when I saw it, and for $2 our china pig came home with us.
Despite the death rattle that is my cough and my general grumpiness, life does seem to be continuing! Yesterday was my mom’s birthday, so we trekked downtown to visit the 
From the Archives, it was over to lunch at the Elephant & Castle and onward to the tidal basin — where the cherry blossoms are in bloom! Despite living in the D.C. area my whole life, I’d somehow never made it down to check them out. No more! I was stunned at how beautiful they are, and they’re not even at their “peak” blooming date yet (that’s supposed to be now through April 4, though it’s all gray out today. Not so pretty). I took photos of tourists and for tourists, often “swapping” photos with them — “Can you take a photo of the two of us, and we’ll take a photo of the two of you?” Everyone was surprisingly friendly, and that’s partially how I knew they were from out of town.
And they were so gorgeous! I knew I would love them, of course, considering the fact that I love anything pink and I happen to adore the cherry blossom perfume from Bath & Body Works. Against my instincts, I won’t ram you over the head with a montage of my cherry blossom photos — but you can check them all out on 
So cameras were everywhere — seriously, everyone had one, even if it was just their camera phone. Mom and I joined the mesmorized crowds and even ran into one of her coworkers. Awesome guy that he is, my dad dropped us off right by the tidal basin and drove back around to grab us 45 minutes later. Plenty of time to snap more than 100 photos!
I notice angles in a completely new way now, and I’ve really started paying attention to things like shutter speed, aperture and depth of field. Two months ago, I couldn’t have told you a single thing about any of that. Following in my mother’s footsteps, I’m rarely ever seen outside without my PowerShot dangling from my wrist — but didn’t really know how to frame a great picture before. Now I’m learning — and having so much fun. Yay for adult continuing education classes! We only have two more courses after this week and I’m pretty sad about that! I’ve met some really interesting people and enjoyed the new creative outlet.
