Tuesday

My neighbor, Lorraine, called me at 7:00 am, as she has before (good thing I get up early) and we had a chat. We'll meet for lunch some time soon in the middle of the complex. Washed and changed the bedclothes after breakfast. 

Packed lunch and walked the footbridge to the library. I was early, returned two books, and read for a bit. Went out at quarter of twelve and a few minutes later, Diane came up. As ever, we ate, talked, laughed, talked some more, and generally enjoyed ourselves for three hours--a marathon session, even for us.

Finally parted and Diane bused one way, I the other. I went from there to the mall and Target for grapefruit, bread, and an IPA six pack. Didn't do much else except watch some of a murder case in the U.K., then heated up some turkey stir-fry for dinner.

Ellen called. She'll get her blood test tomorrow, then will pick me up and we'll go to lunch. We also had a long talk about my damn homeowners insurance. It's imbelievable that I srent it registered mail on July 20 and it still hasn't gotten to Jersey. El suggested we go to Office Depot today, have it scanned, and send it that way. Will do.

Monday

At noon, having packed my lunch, I took off for town to return a blouse and buy another. It was very quiet, as it usually is at the beginning of the week, as I ate at my spot across from the mission, and enjoyed the lovely sun.

Bused home, watched a little of Cursed Bloodlines (the Romanov segment), then took a nap. Called Jim to give him the number and reservation information for the Access Van and we had a good talk. I was glad to hear that the doctor had postponed his procedure to the middle of August and that his friend will take him there and back. He seemed a little more with it, which was a relief; told him I'll have him over for lunch one of these days. 

Diane and I will meet for a lib lunch today and I'm looking forward to telling her all about the great visit of Frank's kids. On that topic: nephew Jim had been very interested in the following picture of my father, brothers, and Betty and me, which I had brought to show at Carolyn's on Saturday. Here it is, the patriarch and the younger Byrne clan on the Ventnor beach, c. 1939. Judging by the placement of the pier in the background, it looks like Newport Avenue:

I was able to enhance it a bit, and emailed Jim to say I would give him the hard copy if he'll send his address.

More Traveling Memorial

Another prize from the Traveling Memorial and I was stunned, as I didn't remember this at all. However, I think it's just that my memory is faulty, as I'm pretty sure Marybeth and Frank wouldn't have neglected to ask permission. It was written 52 years ago:

                                                

July 6  5:30 am

1972

This is my last will and testament on the eve of Frank's and my departure to New York. Should it be God's will that anything should happen to us, I would like either of the following persons to raise our children in the love of God

Pat and Rosemary Molloy

Mike and Marcia Grimball

Paul and Kitty Geidler

My request (is) that they get all the love possible and a knowledge of our living nd true God. Everything will fall into place with God's help. In regard to material goods--if what is left after their support and upkeep, that is divided equally among the four!

With God we will pray for you daily--we are going on a Marriage Encounter mission only because we feel it is His Will!

With Love:

Matybeth Byrne

13 Pajaro Way

Salinas 93901

424-3213

Witness: Marie Dainow 

Sunday

Nothing very exciting, as I didn't do much except walk to Ralph's for plant milk, oatmeal, blueberries, and cherries. Took my lunch and ate at the nice fountain park near it. Bused back, but at least I got a mile and a quarter in. 

I was surprised and pleased when I got a phone call from the Tokyo trio. Little Mr. K. was about to leave with friends to go to a train museum in a neighboring town. I chatted with his Dad and Mom and realized again he's not so little: only ten years old, now wears a larger shoe than his father. Anyway,  it was great to talk with them. 

Aside from that, I hardly remember what all I did--it sure wasn't very interesting.

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Here's darling granddaughter, Vivian, at two, who today turns twenty years old. Grandson Joel is 42, so there's a big age gap between first cousins.  

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Friday And Saturday: The Traveling Memorial

Hey, I can't possibly convey the fun and enjoyment I had--and we had--over the past two days, so I have to make this just a quick pass-through:

Friday: The Byrne family texted Ellen to ask for a suggestion where to meet and she said the the Café Nouveau, a perfect choice. We got there at 7:00 to find my brother, Frank's four, Jim, Maureen, Patrick, and Francine, along with Carolyn, Dana, and Claire, already there. We had a room all to ourselves just the right size for nine, wonderfully decorated, and proceeded to have a ball. There was all kinds of getting reacquainted talk and frank discussion of the four marital and semi-marital split-ups, augmented by good wine and great meals. At the end, to my enormous surprise, the server set before me a large kind of ice cream sundae in a big Margarita glass with a candle atop and everyone sang me happy birthday.    

Hey, wait--what? My birthday's in December, but it was explained with much hilarity that the wait staff saw what they thought was a celebration and just assumed I was the guest of honor and it was my birthday. My nieces and nephew didn't want to embarrass them, so went along with it. After the birthday, I ate half, then offered it around and everybody took it and had a few bites. Same spoon, of course, and it amused me think that some of my friends would have the vapors at the germs being passed around. However, Patrick is a well-respected otolaryngologist at the Cleveland Clinic and Jim the medical director of three hospitals. When I mentioned what my friends would think, Patrick said we have a well-developed defense system and that was enough for me. Jim picked up the tab for all nine of us, shushing any protest. Considering this is a pretty expensive restaurant and we all had entrees, wine, and beer, this must have come close to four hundred bucks, thanks, Jimbo! I stayed over at Ellen's and 11:00 or so on Saturday---read on:

Saturday: Sacco subs at Carolyn's in Santa Barbara. The whole gang was there, along with Steve,  Robyn, and Dex, and we had a fab lunch. I brought a lot of family pics and artifacts, including my father's 1922 yearbook from Villanova. Everybody enjoyed seeing and discussing them:

 After, we went to see Betty at Villa Alamar and she smiled and laughed, seeming to know she's part of this big extended family. 

Here's most of the gang at Villa Alamar:

Standing from left: Jim, Ellen, Carolyn, Patrick, Steve, and Francine; seated: Maureen, me, and Betty. 

Couldn't resist adding this--Carolyn with Betty's pretend baby.

We kissed Betty goodbye, then it was back to Carolyn's, where we had a little ceremony involving Frank's and Marybeth's ashes. Maureen and Carolyn sprinkled some of the combined ashes in the flower garden and I was presented with some, which I'll take to Ventnor when I go to Jersey in September. I plan to put a pinch in three places that are part of Frank's (and my) heritage: 15 South Rosborough, the Ventnor beach, and St. James.  

We said goodbye then, telling each other of our love, and off went the Byrne contingent. They'll be stopping and leaving some of Frank and Marybeth at various other places from their heritage. Ellen and I left soon after and we drove to my place. 

Every once in a while, I understand how lucky I am. These last two days it was so evident, I couldn't miss it.  

NOTICE...NOTICE...NOTICE!!!!!!!

There will be no post of Mimi's musings tomorrow, Saturday, July 27!! I know that my legions of readers are sobbing and lamenting over this news and wondering, WHY? WHY? WHY? The reason: Mimi is staying over at Ellen's tonight and has a lot to take with her (including artifacts of the Byrne/Figenshu families) and just doesn't feel like dragging her laptop along. 

It's now 10:43 on Friday, El is to pick me up at noon and then we go to the Pierpont Inn to meet up with my nieces and nephews. What I've done today so far is to pack all the stuff I'm taking. Also called the Access Van to ask questions on Jim's behalf--more about that later. 

Later: Ellen came and she and I went to the Hill Street Café for lunch. I hadn't realized we weren't meeting the Byrne gang until 7:00, as they visited Monterey and Cal Lu first. El and I strolled the Ventura harbor, then went back to my place. We heard back and forth from the visitors, who asked El to suggest a restaurant for dinner. She chose Cafe Neuvou and I took an hour nap. More published Sunday!

 

Thursday

Lots of extended family goings-on: For openers, niece Carolyn called early and I'm so glad she did. I had put down that my brother, Frank's, children (two sons, two daughters) were coming on the twenty-ninth for the "traveling memorial" for their Dad, but in fact, it's the twenty-sixth--today!  They're staying at the Pierpont Inn in Ventura, then on tomorrow, we'll all go to Carolyn's in Santa Barbara and have Sacco Subs. Carolyn and I also had a long talk about various family situations. 

And more on visitors: I talked to my 92-year-old brother, Larry, who said he'll be here from the ninth to the thirteenth of September, with his daughter, Terry. They'll stay in Ventura, but we'll all go up to Santa Barbara, too, to Carolyn's and to see Betty. I texted Carolyn's brother, Wes, in Chicago, with the dates, as he had said he'd like to see Larry, too. He hopes he can get here.

After that, I spent time going over my family pictures and documents to show Frank's gang. Will take them tomorrow to Santa Barbara, maybe both.

Called my neighbor, Lorraine, to see if she could bring her lunch and meet in the middle of the complex, but she said she had to wait for the cable guy. I took my lunch and my book (The Body, by Bill Bryson, which is enthralling). I had just finished my sandwich and beer when Lorraine came up; she had left the cable guy a note. We had a nice time in the beautiful sunshine chatting; I'm getting to know Lorraine better and, while we're not exactly on the same wave length, I enjoy talking to her. She got a phone call from nutty Michelle, told her she'd talk to her late, but as soon as she hung up, she got another and told her the same thing. The third call she didn't answer and darned if Michelle didn't come up to us. I excused myself about two minutes later, lying in my teeth by by saying I had to go, but I just can't stand listening to Michelle. 

Earlier, I had washed the bathroom and hall rugs and dusted and washed the hard floors. Did a color wash and a few other chores. Called Cheryl to tell her I won't be going to T.O.P.S. today. as I'll be with family. Ellen called and will pick me up at noon. She suggested I stay over at her house, then we'll go to Santa Barbara from there; will do. 

Jim called to tell me he was getting some kind of procedure on his heart on Tuesday. A stent, maybe? He thought so, but it's being done in the doctor's office, which seems odd. The problem is, he was told not to drive after and he doesn't know how to get there. I'll see if I can help.

I got a kick out of this, which came up on Facebook. I'm one of the tyrant's subjects, all right.