This Reminds Me

My sister Judy and (brilliant) niece Sarah feted me with a truly delightful early birthday party in Houston on Saturday afternoon.  My real 50th isn’t until 1/31, but this (long holiday) weekend was a great time for a party in the large parlor at our old church, Westbury Baptist.

Sarah hired a professional photographer; I asked Rachel to take pictures also so I could blog about them quickly.  After we returned home on Sunday, I discovered her pictures were of herself and her goofy friends messing around in the church baptistery.  Imagine my delight at this discovery of evidence of their deeply spiritual interests.  I think she was too busy letting a large flight of helium balloons loose in the sanctuary to concrete on her duties; I only hope the colorful spheres drifted to the pews before or after Sabbath worship.

Fortunately – my dear friend Marilyn Dodd pinged me a picture today of the two of us at the party taken on her camera – great, my excuse to blog!  (When I can link to an online album – expect more pictures!)

So maybe I’m no longer her pupil, but she’s still my teacher.

Marilyn tapped me to be yearbook editor of the all new and quite exciting 1974 Mariner at Madison High School in Houston.  She invested herself in me, and I will always be grateful.  The writing, editorial and photography experience led to more responsibility at Remco TV Rental (college job) which led to employment with AT&T in 1979…well, you get the picture.

Speaking of yearebooks and pictures – yeah, “Rebecca Hoffman,” bottom right, that’s me…

Mom made photo albums for all three of us when we were kids.  Judy asked me to bring them to display; I happily complied, and – purely coincidentally – spotted this picture of Mom on her 50th birthday, 1/15/71.  Since her 85th birthday would have been yesterday, I thought posting it here was a fine idea.  David and I made her cake.

1/15/71 – Two boxes of icing helped hold the 50 candles together.

I appreciate all the gifts brought for our Samaritan’s Purse boxes next year (and yes, Charlotte, Debbie and Gloria, the unexpected gifts for me, too!)  But really, Saturday wasn’t about “presents.”  It was about “presence.”  The presence of John, who gave blood for Lois and me.  The presence of Mary, Kimothy, B.C., Dennis, Konen and Gaylos, who made Station 90.51 Parkwest the place to Bock’n'Roll.  The presence of Goldie, who let us kids drink Koolaid in her kitchen instead of water from the hose.  The presence of Beth and Lisa and all our babies that shared the nursery, and of Jim & Rosalie, whom my babies rushed to greet.  The presence of Steve & Jo and Dan & Sandi, who were so good to Mom, and Martha, Mario & Ruth, who are so good to our whole family.  It was great to see Patsy and Andy walking in the door, like they did when we were present on O’Meara.  I’d like to have Lisa’s bravery, Lorelei’s hips, Jackie’s smile and Kip’s good sense – but Saturday, I was just happy to bask in their presence.

Thank you, Judy and Sarah, but one very special day.

Birthdays.  They’re about presence.  Because life is the gift.

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