Happy 50th Brithday to my dear friend Mary

My dear friend Mary is 50 today. I hardly remember a time in my life when she was not in it. We met in 7th grade in English class. It was September of 1972! We were 11 years old that September. Somehow the K's and the M's were seated near one another in that fateful class. She a middle child with a brother one year ahead of her. Me a baby of the family, my closest sibling 11 years older, wearing a long dress I made, thinking I was cool. I raised my hand to use the bathroom and she decided I was a nice person she would like to meet, we did. The rest is as they say history. We became fast friends. She the sister my age I never had, me the confidant she needed through those awful teenage years. We remained fast friends through high school. She the track team member. Me in the theater, choir on the fringe of the pom pom squad. I had a major crush on her brother. He returned the affection as much as he was able. We shared secrets, crushes, life, walked home together and knew every up and down of life together. We each went our own ways for college, she to the city, me to the wilds of West Virginia, we graduated from college. She ahead of me, I managed to squeeze 4 years of college into 7! Mary put herself though The George Washington University and she graduated with a history major, having worked the entire 6 years of school. It was then that I knew what an amazing dedicated person she was. I'd come home from the country to stay with her in her downtown DC row house. It was so far from my life in the rolling hills of West Virginia and medicine. She in her history and books, me in medicine and patients. I floundered in school, went to Europe for a semester, she stayed stead fast to her goal of graduation. She did and landed a job as a reporter writing wedding announcements for a small paper in Pennsylvania. She had followed a summer crush to that town. It was there in that news room she first laid eyes on her beloved Kevin Keane. A man whom she would have ups and downs with before both realizing they were meant for one another. I was honored to be a bridesmaid in her Philadelphia wedding that warm day in September in 1989. Since then she has had her Kevin and her wonderful growing family. Four beautiful children came to them in the ensuing years. I again am honored to call their baby my God son. A child born to Mary in a year I only dreamt of and hoped to taste the love of Motherhood. That has not been a blessing for me, but I have my Jack to keep warm in my heart forever. This year Mary's Jack is in 7th grade. I wonder if he will be as lucky in life to find a friend he can call brother 39 years from now. I am lucky to call Mary McInerney friend, confidnet, and sister.

This is the earliest photo I can find of the 2 of us. Pat (her brother) is in the photo too. He became my sidekick for many years. This is 1978, the summer we graduated. She was borrowing my bike to ride to school from her Georgetown apartment. Pat and I were heading to Goshen boy scout camp for the summer.

I may have some of these facts wrong, or in the wrong order. But this I know for sure, Mary and I will always and all ways be friends.

Happy Birthday to my Mary. Your forever friend. Heidi

My Dad

Today he would be 81! How can that be? I hardly remember him at 41, much less a retired man at 81. I hope he and Mom would have traveled this great big country of ours in their RV, and been to see all the grandchildren and children all over the country and been to all the state parks and driven to Alaska, and done England and been on cruises and danced and laughed together all these long lost years.

I wonder how his looks would have changed over the last 4o years. It is hard for me to imagine that, as I have such a hard time even picturing him in my mind. The photo below is of him coming out the door of a house before I was even born. It is dated February 1958. It must be the house on Lexington Street in Virginia. In has a hat he looks so handsome. He has a pipe and is dressed up. I think he liked to step out looking dapper. He looks so handsome and put together to me in this photo. This sits on the dresser in the guest room. I think I'll leave it in here in the office with me so I can say hello to him every day.






I wonder what he would think of this country and all that has happened in the last 40 years. I wonder if he had anything to do with the little souls sent this way to our family. Mostly Mike's children's children. But many others as well.

I know he would still have the bluest eyes like a beautiful blue sky day at the lake. He would still love babies, baby anything, even an earth worm according to Mom! He would be so glad to meet all the new additions to our family, no matter what branch they are on. I know he would still love and adore my Mom and all of her children. I know he would be proud of me and what I have become in my 49 years. I know he would be happy for Holly to be able to help raise the next generation of a Will Knight Kestner. I know he would be proud that both Kate and I are physician assistants and love our work. I know he would be proud of Kate and her daughter, and her ability to let us all still enjoy the lake as a family. I know he would be honored to have so many fine young grandsons to carry on the Kestner name.

I know he would be a computer whiz kid! He was impressed with computers in 1971. He would have had all the computers between now and then.

Below is one of my next favorite photos. This is Dad and his siblings in 1957. Dad is the blond in the front row. Alvin Knight, Dale Elwood, William David, Lois Elaine, And Uncle Wayne. They are all gone now. Aunt Lois was at our wedding, she was the last of the Mohican's. She died just last year of colon cancer.

Dad was a wonderful man. He changed the course of this family and brought me here to live with this wonderful family. I miss him often. And know he is with me often. A rainbow makes me think of him and lets me know he is around

Happy 81st Birthday Dad. I still miss you.

Here and gone

Just this morning Holly was standing in my bathroom door asking for toothpaste. And tonight when I went to brush my teeth I had already heard she was safe and sound 3000miles away in her new hometown of Chelan. Only an hour to go for her to be home to her new nest she has made 110 steps from her Grandson Will and his parents in Orondo, Washington.

She was here 2 weeks and they flew. It just seems right to have her here, but alas it almost makes the void even bigger with her gone. She is my sister and I love her so. It is not fair she is so far from us. But she is doing the best thing for her grandson and that is most important. A child raised with the love from Holly can call themselves lucky. I am her first child she raised. I know I am lucky to call Holly Kestner my sister. I have missed her all day. She does not travel well, so this journey home was a sacrifice for her too. May she stay well and happy and content in her new home on the hill in Washington State.

Today Pat is 51. Where does the time go there too? I think I was 12 or so when I first met him as the brother of my dear lifelong friend Mary. He was the older brother, who Mary loved and I grew to love in my own way. Pat is my lifelong friend I am lucky to have him in my life too.

Happy 51st birthday Pat Pat Pat.

Quite the day here in June!

Andy is 32, 1978 was a banner year

I greaduated from high school in 1978. I thought I owned the world. My brother had his fourth child, a son. Stewart Andrew. To be known as Andy. Cute as a button and legs like lead. Here are a few of my favorites of him.

Note the cubaton keys in the lower right. Those were his Mom's no doubt, she was never without the cubaton for a long time for safety.


My brother and his newest son. On his first birthday.


Andy's first cupcake...from Daddy, and his huge hand.


Sweet baby boy




Grandma Kestner and her 5th grandchild. She was 55 here, Andy is one.




The back of this photo reads: Aunt Heidi Andy Age 1 taken June 1979
(He went through a stage when he spit at everything-especially when he was discusted!)




Andy Fall 1979 Junior year. I believe he had already met one Bethany Norman who would one day become his wife and give him four wonderful sons.


Happy 32nd birthday Andy! What a wonderful man you have turned out to be. I know your Dad would be proud of you. I know your Mom is and I sure had a fun time with you this spring. I am proud to call you my nephew!

How can she be 24?

Twenty-four years ago today my sister and her husband submitted an application to the only adoption agency in the DC/MD/VA area that Kate was not affiliated with due to her being the director of a special needs foster care program in Northern Virginia. She did not want any impropriety or special favors from an agency she already worked with.
On that very same day, 24 years ago, my niece Karen Holly Haywood was born into this world by a loving birth mother in Columbia Maryland.
Who would know that two such divergent paths would then meet on that fateful day in July, 14 months later?
She brought all the hopes and dreams of my sister and her husband to fruition. She was loved and cared for by a mother who gave up her career to be home with her blessing from heaven. And heaven sent she was, with blue eyes, brown hair and the love for two parents who wanted her so badly. She crawled into her father's lap and it was love at first sight. She bonded with Kate like no other. She was home and home she has been. I remember that day like it was yesterday (or maybe last month!)

Happy Birthday Karen Holly Haywood. May the next 24 years be as special as you are.

A chocolate cake made with love my her Mom. She is really getting quite domestic!




TA DA!
24!

Tim is 48 today

The man of my dreams is having a birthday. Nothing too profound from me. I have had one hell of a week and it is only 3 days long! Imagine if it were 5!

Tim is the answer to my prayers. He is my companion and love. He is the best thing that has happened to me. He can be gruff at times, but underneath that hard exterior shell is my bear. He his a cuddle love. He takes care of me and makes me feel special. We have each other's back. He makes me laugh and knows how to make me feel better. He is good to my Mom and even gets along with my sisters (yea)! He is a great communicator and makes me voice my opinions, even when it is not what he wants to hear. He is great with money and we both agree on how to do things. If anyone can put together a BBQ grill together, they can do anything together!

We are taking a 3 day weekend and going to Rehoboth, once he gets home from school tonight. We may even splurge and eat out. (We are on a HUGE financial diet due to one income and 2 houses) He only wants a skin tag clinic for his present. I'll cook his favorite meals and let him watch all his science fiction all weekend when I am not snipping on him.

Happy Birthday my love. I look forward to many more birthdays with you.



This is July 2009 in Milwaukee on our vacation last summer. A fun trip. It is the most recent one of us I can find in a pinch.

Bethany is 30

Today my neice-in-law is 30. She is feeling old. I am not sure I can have much sympathy for her as I stare down half a century and would give anything to be at my 30 year mark rather than pushing 50 in a big way. I have gotten to know her through her wonderful ramblings on her blog. Thus she has inspired me to do the same with my humble blog as well.
Her post today is heartfelt and once again shows the depth of her thoughts, memory and emotions. I could not begin to cover each year of my life with such thought and conviction.
Tomorrow she and my nephew Andy arrive in DC/NYC for a whirlwind tour of 2 major cities in 4 short days that will zoom. How can you do DC/NYC in 4 days. Not sure but we will try and succeed to our contentment. I am so looking forward to being able to spend time with her in person and get to know the woman she has become. As we celebrate her 30 years of life and 10 years of marriage to my nephew Andy.

Are we really 50?

This is a monumental year for myself (much later in the year) and all my dear friends from high school and back to elementary school. We are all turning 50. I've made a small investment in every 50 year old Hallmark card and others that I can find in hopes of making this transition easier for all of us. Last year my best friend in the whole world, Pat, turned 50 with such dignity and ease that I know I can too. My dear friend from the Lake, Lee Ann turned 50 as well last year. We share the exact same birthday, she always breaks the ice for me to enter the next decade with as much ease as she did.

So all the locals we could gather on any given Saturday in April did. We met at Sandy Postmans and Yannis Antoniadis home. A wonderful place for gatherings. They do them so well. We chatted and had a pot luck dinner.

Here below you will see all of us. I'll try to get our names to appear correctly as we are lined up. We together have been friends for over 40 years. Sandy and Ron twins born in March 1960. There are so many more who should be in this photo with us. But just a start to many events of the year as we all become half centurions.



Keith, Francene, Sandy, Stephanie, myself (Heidi), Roseanne, Laurel, Tracy, Jim, and Ron

Ten of us equals 500 years of knowledge there! YIKES!

You see our birthday cake there with the candles lit, we would have set Sandy's house on fire if we all had our own set of 50. I think there are 10, each representing 5 years!

A banner day

My father has been gone for 39 years.
Eileen is 45.
And Monty and Melissa have a new son: Case (no middle name yet) Oppenheim.
Mom and son are well. A joyful bris to follow in 8 days......all planned out by induced labor to be on the best days for birth then celebration.
Two boys for the M&M Oppenheims.
A birthday to share for Eileen.
And a day I'll never forget as changing my life forever.

My sister is 60!

And here are 60 of the reasons we love her!

Sixty reasons why we love Holly
With more love than we can fathom, From Mom, Kitti and Heidi
From Mom:
1. She says funny “Hollyisms”.
2. She is my “water baby”.
3. She lets you know what she really thinks and feels, but kindly.
4. She deliberately lives minimally and joyfully, yet keeps cherishes a few treasured things.
5. She knuckled down and finished her bachelor’s degree-because she should.
6. She makes any space she lives in into a welcoming home. Can make do with lack of conveniences cheerfully.
7. She knows when she’s had “enough”.
8. Honest to the core.
9. Even saves spiders.
10. Has the skill of saying things the right way.
11. Can leave &/or divorce a man sand stay a good friend.
12. Rows her own boat.
13. Very committed to any task she accepts.
14. Honors individuals from parents to children.
15. Wishes the best for everyone and is not envious or jealous.
16. Encourages others to push beyond their comfort zones.
17. Hard worker-determined to accomplish goals she sets.
18. Finds the good and is tolerant of others.
19. Loves others Children as her own.r
20. Put up with me (Mom).
From Kate:
21. She is my twin.
22. She is in every memory I have.
23. She is smarter about people than any psychiatrist.
24. She is honest; even when it hurts.
25. She loves the Lake as much as I do.
26. She respects all life; even bugs.
27. She makes me belly laugh until I snort.
28. She makes three sisters; a perfect triangle.
29. She can make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
30. She can live on love alone.
31. Only she can give us “Hollyisms” such as:
a. Cease and detest.
b. By the skin of her neck.
c. Listening to my college professors made my speech more affluent.
32. She can allow herself to love lovable dogs.
33. She sees the best in people.
34. She is a shinning beacon for Living Simply.
35. She sees more beauty in the stars and the sparkle on the water than in diamonds; and she sees flaws in diamonds.
36. She is the most giving mother and grandmother in the world.
37. She is the best advisor I’ve ever had.
38. She loves rocks as much as I do and she knows a good one when she sees it.
39. She is my partner in crime.
40. She never stole a boyfriend. But she could have.
From Heidi:
41. She thrives at being a minimalist and thinks everyone else should be too.
42. She is generous to a fault.
43. She can ALWAYS find a good thing to say about a person, no matter what the situation.
44. She may seem like she has a tough external shell, but she is very sentimental and tender.
45. She always had fun in her MGB. She would drive Tracy and me to school and drive in circles at the intersection and make us laugh till we cried! She saved Dad’s hat to drive in that car with the top down!
46. She will get something done 80% and then hand it over to me to PLEASE finish; she just could never do it. And when you finish, she would make you feel like a million dollars for the simplest thing.
47. She is a loyal friend to few, and those she calls friend are blessed.
48. She is the best youngest sister in the world.
49. She loves it when I cook her a meal. Any meal will do. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. She will love every bite and then loves doing all the dishes.
50. She loves to wash things. In the dishwasher she makes glass shiny clean. And then she places them just so to admire them. She loves anything to do with water. Washing clothes, watering the yard, swimming, showers (outside are best).
51. She loves her family, and will do anything within her power for them.
52. If she does set her mind to do something, she will finish it 100%, and then some.
53. She wears just the basic colors. NO patterns, stripes, prints. She loves her nightgown and slippers.
54. She is all or nothing. And not much in between.
55. She can massacre the English language like no tomorrow. (See Hollyisms above). But you always know what she is trying to say. (“Time to step up to the bat”, “All of the sudden”)
56. She loves her son; he is her love, dove, world. And now she loves his world with his wife and son.
57. She keeps her word. If she tells you she is going to do something, she does.
58. She loves ALL animals. She taught me how to safely take a spider outside without killing it. They live outside; she says they just get lost in our house.
59. She loves dark chocolate.
60. We love Holly because she is our daughter and our sister, we are lucky to call her friend.

Birthday weekends

I kindof liked the last one. And the other 2 are perfect photos!

What a wonderful week of birthday treats. Thursday night Tim took me to dinner at a favorite restaurant I had forgotten all about. A little Italian place in Wheaton: Christina's. We had a lovely dinner at an intimate table in the window where we watched the goings on of Wheaton.

Tim pampered me all weekend in Rehoboth Beach. Saturday breakfast in bed! Yummo. I ran errands all day at the outlets (I was a shopping fool at the outlets, unusual actually I am rarely at the outlets. The hardware store is more my speed). I found a perfect little giftie for all the west coast families, something for Tim, hostess gift for Eileen for hostessing Thanksgiving again, a present for Kate, Justin and Mom. My Christmas paper......I love doing Christmas cards. I could probably make money doing cards for people. I think I need to have my head examined.

Tim says I am not allowed to bring one more card in the house until I use up 90% of what I have. SO, hold on to your hats, all you birthday card recipients! They are about to get weird. Birthday post cards, hand made cards to birthday cards. Note cards to birthday cards. I mail over 80 birthday cards a year. And funny, this year got only 3 or 4. But had a wonderful birthday. Back to the birthday pampering weekend.

Flowers arrived Saturday. Photo to attach soon! I promise. I am getting better at this stuff.

Dinner was turkey breast (who says you have to wait for Thanksgiving!), mashed potatoes and broccoli.

Sunday we drove home and listened to the Redskins actually win a game! Sunny is so funny on the radio. I had to concentrate to visualize the game. Actually quite scary I could do that, but I did! I even made some comments before Sunny!

We arrived home in time for Tim to watch Dallas, but he quit watching at half time and fixed my computer. I had major problems. So, my computer is now fixed!
I'm back to blogging!

Veteran's Day 2009

Happy Veteran's Day to all who have served our wonderful country.
My Dad, my husband and my brother and his wife have all served in the military. My brother-in-law and his two grandsons are Navy men as well. I really knew very little about any branches of the military until I married Tim. He and his family are all military. His Dad, Brother, Sister, brother-in-law, nephews are all in the military. His Grandmother is buried at Arlington Cemetery. She was a military nurse and his Grandfather Larcombe served as well. My dad is buried in Gettysburg and my brother rests in the most beautiful spot in the pacific north west.

My hat goes off to all listed above. If I were ultra uber organized I'd scan and post all the photos I have of the above listed family members in their uniform, but I am not. And I am at work, so cannot look for the photos. But the intention is there. Don't be surprised if I do that next year! When I will have my whole house organized cause I am doing each task as a little project!

Today I get to celebrate an early birthday with Mom and Kate, we are going to a Polish Pottery place and I get to pick a serving dish I need and then we are going to dinner at Clyde's in Columbia. A fun birthday celebration with the local women. Tomorrow Tim and I are going to dinner...my choice!

Annie Burkholder at work brought me yummy apple scrapple bread from Great Harvest today. And an oatmeal raisin cookie. Two of my favorites. She is my fellow Scorpio November birthday.

Mom has made my birthday cranberry muffins with butter sauce. I can hardly wait to have them tonight!