Happy Birthday Amanda and Chelsea
It’s difficult for me to believe that these beautiful babies are all grown up. When did it happen? Today, Amanda and Chelsea are nineteen years old. I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am of my brother and Paula…they have raised two incredible young women.
Just a few days from now, Amanda and Chelsea will be finishing their junior year at New St. Andrews College. Good grief…they’re almost seniors. Honestly, it seems like only yesterday they were learning to read.
I like that they speak their minds, have a great sense of humor, aren’t the least bit silly, are highly creative, and have a deep, deep love for the things of God. I love to be in their company - they make me laugh. At the same time, they make me want to be a better person.
I’m so thankful for Amanda and Chelsea. For their love, for their patience with me, and for the way they expect me to be involved in their lives. There’s no place else I’d rather be.
In the top picture, Amanda is on the left and Chelsea is on the right. The bottom picture was taken at Ristorante La Lanterna in Sorrento, Italy. Amanda is on the left and Chelsea is on the right. After a day of intense Italian sunshine, we relaxed with a few glasses of wine and great food. Here’s to our next adventure.
I love you Amanda Renee. I love you Chelsea Albret. Aunt Lucy
The Beauty of Costco
I needed to make a quick trip to Lewiston with a birthday related task. Paula and Gabe came with me and we did a little shopping at Costco.
Gabe, bless his heart, loves the “samples” at Costco. Ugh! Not a chance I’m eating one.
Gabe fell in love with a pallet full of foot-long fruit things. Despite that adorable face, he didn’t manage to convince his Mother to buy any. Instead, he became the proud owner of a foot-long churro covered in cinnamon and sugar. Most of the cinnamony sugar ended up on my back seat. But…giving props where props are due…he got the dust buster and sucked the mess up like a pro.
Give It Gas! Give it Gas!
My very first car had manual transmission and I didn’t know how to drive it. With only seven miles on the odometer, my friend Kim (Botsford then, Dupont now) drove my pretty, blue Toyota Tercel off the lot. She drove the car home and patiently taught me how to drive “stick-shift.” I had to be at work at 8:00am so I had all night to learn.
Why did I buy I car I didn’t know how to drive? I’ll have to take you back to 1976. If you weren’t alive back then, consider this a history lesson. My family was living in South Africa. It was my Dad’s birthday and we were planning to celebrate with pizza and a movie. The movie was Hennessy with Rod Stieger & Lee Remick. My brother, Doug, was too young to get in to the movie, so we made him wear my sisters clogs so he appeared taller, and therefore, older. The plan was to be as unnoticeable as possible.
At the time, my Dad was driving a Citroen - a sweet car that balanced itself if one of the tires went flat. It also did this strange air-like settling thing whenever it came to a complete stop. The emergency brake was tucked in to the dashboard to the right of the steering wheel. And…it had a manual transmission.
So we eat our celebratory pizza, find our way to the theater, and make it to our seats without anyone giving us grief about Doug’s age. About 30 minutes in to the movie, my Dad passes out and we can’t revive him. We panic, someone yells for a doctor, the lights come on, the movie stops, and a doctor jumps over the chairs to do CPR. Needless to say, we were noticed. My Dad was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance and the four of us stood in the parking lot and watched it drive away. Three of us knew how to drive - none of us knew how to drive stick. That sweet, little Citroen sat in the parking lot. In the taxi ride to the hospital I promised myself I’d learn how.
This afternoon my nephew, Mac, and I circled an empty parking lot until he “got it.” Before him was his sister Amanda, their cousin Nathan, their friends Whitney and Afton, a few people I can’t seem to remember, and my first student…my brother Doug. The trick in teaching someone to drive stick-shift is to remain calm…no matter how many times they pop the clutch and give you whiplash. It’s not helpful to yell, “Give it gas! Give it gas!” Remember to turn corners - it seems to be the first place where the brain freezes and they realize there are 3 pedals and pressing them incorrectly makes the car due frightening things. You may have to demonstrate the “concept” several times and teach them to listen to the sound of the car. It’s good to say, “Everybody does this. You’re not the first person to stall a car.” You may have to say that several times in many different ways. And when they’re ready…encourage them to leave the parking lot. Yes…they have to stop when the light is red or the sign says STOP. And “riding the clutch” is a technique that must be unlearned as soon as possible.
Thank you, Kim. You were a fantastic teacher and a wonderful friend.
Girls & Their Toys
For the last five years, I’ve had a good relationship with my Conair hair dryer. My previous dryer, also a Conair, lasted almost twelve years - I loved that old thing and was sad to see it go.
Just the other day I noticed an odd sound coming from it. Listen, when you’ve used an appliance for five years you get to know the sound of it. First it was a soft hum. It slowly progressed to a whiney buzz, followed by a clunking noise. And finally, the darn thing shook so badly I couldn’t hold on to it with one hand. I could tell a part had come loose, but my hair was really wet and, well, I haven’t left the house with wet hair since I was fourteen years old. So I held it as far away from my face as possible, for fear that a piece would fly out and stick in my eye, and managed to get most of my hair dry. My hands and arms were tired from fighting with it. Hey…a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.
Last night I bought a new hair dryer. I stood in the aisle for fifteen minutes asking myself, “If they make the darn things to fall apart after a couple of years, shouldn’t you just by a cheap one?” Hello, it’s my crown. So I opted for a Conair - known for hair appliances - and tossed my $23.50 on the counter. Actually, it was a debit card, but I digress.
So I get the thing home and inspect it. Oh My! It has eight more setting than my last dryer and two extra buttons. WeeeeHoooo! And it’s metallic red.
This morning, it took me twelve - that’s 12 - minutes to dry my hair. With my old dryer (may it rest in peace) it took me 37 minutes. I’m not kidding. Now, I’ve got my eye on the vacuum. Maybe it’s time for a new one. I’m just saying.
Happy Birthday, Nathan!
He’s my second oldest nephew and one of my favorite people. It seems that just yesterday he was learning how to ride a bike, and today, he’s married to a beautiful woman and he’s a dad.
I’m thankful for Nathan. He makes me smile. Just thinking about him makes me happy.
Today, after I sang happy birthday over the phone, I assured him that no matter the miles that keep us apart or the time that passes between hugs, I love him dearly and want the best for him.
Happy Birthday, Nathan!
I love you. AL
