Family Blog

Hello everyone...welcome to my blog. I was inspired to blog while driving home today, upon hearing a radio program host tell how easy it was for a person to create a web site, and for free, too.

I'll inaugurate the blog by a description of the 90th birthday celebration for my mom, Nina Reed; photos will follow, as they come in. My sister, Lisa, and I decided to have a surprise party for her on the Saturday following her birthday of January 19, 2006. Many of our relatives and friends were able to make the trek to San Jacinto, where Mother lives, and join us at a local cafe for a light lunch, birthday cake, and family stories. We had a very nice time and I'm so grateful to all who came.

Mother's first surprise was that I showed up at her house late Friday night, instead of at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. I told her my other plans had fallen through. Her second surprise came when she was called into the house for a purported phone call from her sister Lilian; she came in the door to talk to her sister and was presented with her sister and niece Dianne in person. Lil and Dianne had flown in from Denver the evening before, and stayed overnight at a motel in Hemet. I fetched them to Mother's house on Saturday morning, so they would have more time to visit. Mother expected them to come to our annual birthday lunch we always went to.

The party was slated to start at 2:00 p.m. Around noon Mother started making noises about setting off for the restaurant where we'd have lunch. We stalled as long as we could then Lisa, Lil, Dianne, and I left the house at about 1:15. We took the long way, to say the least. We drove around old town San Jacinto; we drove by the high school; we went through a drive-through coffee stall; drove through Art Linkletter's Sierra Dawn mobile home park; we drove here there and everywhere, taking "wrong" turns several times. Finally, I turned back in the direction of the cafe. Mother couldn't figure out why I couldn't follow directions, and just go where she told me to.

We approached the parking lot just as Ted, Emma, and Adele were getting out of their car. I spotted them and drove down a ways to enter at the far end of the lot so Mother would not see them. We parked, just as Alexa got out of her car; I signaled her to turn around and go back. She went back to her car, just as Elmo and the boys drove in. Mother recognized the car and wondered what they were doing there. We were still in the car, while Lisa ran into the cafe on the excuse she had to check with Nellie to finish doing the "favor" which had delayed Lisa earlier. We finally got the signal, went into the cafe and Mother got the BIG surprise when she saw David, and then all the others waiting to greet her in the dining room. Great hilarity ensued.

For the next 2 1/2 hours we ate and drank and visited. Photos in my albums and baby book were spurs to the relating of family anecdotes and histories. A very satisfying afternoon altogether.

I'll add the guest list tomorrow and photos as they arrive. Please e-mail me if you have information or news; I'll it add to the blog.