Happy, Happy Hee-Haw!

Heather Michelle, my dear niece and goddaughter, turns the Big 4-0 today!  And I am sure, she will do it with the flare and fan-fare that she does everything in life! 

In the Chinese zodiac, Heather was born in the Year of the Mouse.  For Heather, this is somewhat ironic, for she is anything but mousy, in the traditional sense.  Those born in the Year of the Mouse are charismatic, well-organized and practical, with a strong work ethic and great leadership skills. Those born under this sign also have great enthusiasm for life and a strong will. 


All of this is Heather to a "T" - she is a hugely enthusiastic person, always in motion, always having fun, intensely loyal to friends and family, and ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS doing the right thing, whether it's...

planning her brother's birthday party (which she did last year),

her work as head of the PE/Health department at a local middle school,

spending time with friends and family,

celebrating Christmas, always inth her signature red stocking cap,

organizing family game nights and activities

cutting her hair and shaving her head in a fundraiser for cancer survivors.

 

This photo is the epitome of the birthday girl:
broad smile,
#1 Cowboys fan,
furry hat!

Heather has two facial expressions:  a broad, beaming smile, and a tense, focused scowl.  She wears the smile 99% of the time.  The scowl appears during sport events!  She loves all sports, and plays many of them herself, even spending a few years on Baltimore's women's football team a few years ago!  But talk to her of football, and it's the Dallas Cowboys ALL THE WAY!!!

That's our Heather, she lives life to the full, enjoying all it has to offer, with no apologies.  To know is to love her!  And love her, indeed I do! 

Happy Birthday, Hee-Haw! 

Happy Birthday, Douglas!

Well, I can hardly believe it!  Today, the first-born of my nephews and nieces turns 41 years!

I'm just so proud of Douglas and all that he has grown to be: a young man of great humor, heart, and integrity, with wonderful acting skills and directing abilities.  The list could go on and on...

Happy Birthday, Doug!

As the King of Siam in
"The King and I"

Dear Stephanie, Happy 30th Birthday!

Today my dear niece and goddaughter, Stephanie Clare, turns 30! 

I can hardly believe it, those years have flown by so quickly!  Although Stephanie is a lovely young woman, all grown up and self-supporting, I still occasionally think of her as a little girl.

As an only child, Stephanie's childhood is well-documented with lots of great photos.  But here are two of my favorite, very impromptu and casual photos of her; my guess is she has never seen these. 

The first one was taken when Stephanie, her mom and dad (my sister, Sharon and brother-in-law, Ed) and I were all on vacation together in Florida. 

At the breakfast table.
DisneyWorld, late 1980s.

The next photo was taken in the car on the way to Hershey Park in Pennsylvania.  We were going for a day of fun in the chocolate-themed park.  Stephanie had just learned to blow a bubble! 

Happy Birthday, Stephanie!

Hope your day is SUPER-KRELL!!!





Penblwyd Hapus, Heilig!

Wishing a wonderful birthday to a wonderful man, my father-in-law Heilig.  Today Heilig turns 81. 

Last year the family planned to travel to Egypt to celebrate his milestone birthday.  Instead, "Arab Spring" interrupted our travel plans, and we met in Belgium, where we enjoyed a lovely week together.

Because of the change in travel plans, my sister-in-law was able to bring a fantastic birthday cake for the event.  Don't worry, it was a fruit cake, so it held up well in the travel.  A good fruit cake can even benefit by a few extra days before serving. 

Here are pictures of his 80th birthday very special cake. 

The cake includes a dragon (symbol of Wales),
a swan (for his favorite football team, The Swans),
a radio, maps and books (some of his hobbies),
little dolphins swimming in the bay,
and sheep (after all, this is Wales!).
The cake is lined surrounded by delicate flowers representing
his many years as a professor of horticulture.

The cake also includes a sign pointing to towns that
have significance to periods in his life.

Close-up of dragon, dolphins, books, radio
and swan.

Happy Birthday, Heilig!

Happy Birthday, Sister of Mine!

Happy Birthday, Diane!

Wishing you a wonderful day,

today and every day!

 

 

With our love.

Remembering Grandma

December 2 is the birthday of my maternal grandmother, Ida Mae Morgan.

Born in 1907, Grandma was one of nine children.  With two sisters and six brothers, she grew up as part of a large, loving and close-knit family.  Those qualities, along with her caring and generous spirit stayed with her forever. 

I could fill a calendar day by day, for decades, with all the wonderful memories of time spent with Grandma and Uncle Earle, my step-grandfather. 

Grandma would be an amazing 104 this year!  Sadly, of course, she is no longer with us.  That does not mean, however, that we will not honor her memory.

I recently acquired this photograph.  My grandmother is on the left, a large bow in her hair.  I think she’s about 12 years old here.  That looks about right, and that also coincides with the era when those over-sized bows were in vogue.  Also in the photo are her two sisters: toddler Bonnie and older sister Annie, who is holding her son. 

My mom has the original of this photo, which is 8 x 10 inches.  I found it unusual to have an original from this era, in this size, and said so to my mother.  That’s when she told me a family member had owned a photo studio!  What?!!  How could something like this have slipped past my attention?!!  I’m checking my city directories and other resources to learn more about this potential gold mine.

Thinking of you with love today, Grandma.

Happy Birthday, Nephew!

Today our family celebrates the birthday of my brother Mike's son, Timothy.  He's all grown up now, and I'm very proud of him.  

Here he is, at the age of 9, as a very serious Little Leaguer. 

Where did this little guy go?

His 1993 stats:

Height:  4’2”

Weight:  65 lbs.

Bats:  Right

Throws:  Right

Position(s):  Pitcher / Shortstop

Team:  Rangers

League:  Bengies Chase

Favorite Pro:  Cal Ripken, Jr.

Happy Birthday, Tim!

Happy Birthday, Brother!

You may recognize this adorable threesome from the photo at upper right “My Immediate Family…”  Let me introduce you to my sisters Diane and Sharon, and my brother Eddie.  (My brother, Mike, younger than Ed, is not in the photo.  He was probably in the crib at the time!)  Today is Eddie's birthday.

I’m not quite sure when this photo was taken, but Mom tells me Eddie received the Indian suit as a birthday gift from his godparents, my father’s Uncle Frank (his mom’s brother) and Frank’s wife, Aunt Charlotte.  Mom commented that Eddie “loved that Indian suit.  He put it on and wore it until it fell apart!”   Judging by the state of this little Indian’s clothing, I think the suit was nearing the end of its life, so I am estimating 1956 or 1957 as the year of this photo.

There’s something special about my brother Eddie, as there is about all of my siblings.  But while my other siblings and I all live relatively close to one another (no pun intended there, honestly!) Eddie lives half-way across the country from us, deep in the heart of Dallas.  This causes sadness for all of us. 

But the really special thing about Ed is that talking with him on the phone, which I don’t get to do as much as I’d like, is just like having him in the room—his personality is so big and full of life that when his voice comes over the wire, it is just as full humor, wisdom, love, opinions, sensitivity, curiosity and joy as if he were sitting right next to me.  The only thing missing is the hug.  

Brother of mine, Happy Birthday.  I send you love, and I send you hugs.  I only wish we were together so I could deliver them in person. XXXXX 

Photo dated January 1979.