Surprises

Yesterday my mom gave us some old bow ties that used to belong to my step-dad. Alan has been known to wear his neckties to school with any old t-shirt, so we thought he might like the bow ties. He did.He really wanted to wear more than one at once, but I convinced him he could change them throughout the afternoon. When he found a pink one he brought it to me with a puzzled expression. I tried to explain to him a little about Mike's personality. That he was funny. Laid back. He liked pink. That was his favorite tie. I have a memory book and I dug it out of a box in the garage and showed Alan a couple of pictures... even one of Mike in the pink tie. I think Mike would like Alan's fashion sense. Then Alan put on the pink tie.

Yesterday was my birthday. 37. I don't particularly care for that number. Not because I think of it as 'old'. Maybe because it's prime. Maybe that's silly. We had hamburgers for dinner. My mom made a pavlova from the new Food Network magazine. It was delicious. Someone else announced that she would like that dessert for her birthday cake in the fall. I think I'd like it for mine again next year. Better than cake. Like a big chocolate Kiss (meringue cookie or in this case, pie) with whipped cream and strawberries on top.
I could go on and on over how good it was. Instead I'll just say you should try making it.

Then today I got a package from Grandma Sarah. I had to share her talent. These silhouettes are beautiful. And what's amazing to me is she can sit down and cut them with just scissors and a black piece of paper. No sketching involved.