Basket of Blessings

When I married into Doug's family, almost 25 years ago, I lucked out.

We all get along together, including the brothers and sisters-in-law,

and we have a lot of fun together.

Maggie and Rob were in Utah from Alaska a few weeks ago because their son, Kyle, was going into the MTC for his mission to Russia.

Any time the Olsens are in town we gather.

Well, we gather even when the Olsens aren't in town, just because we like to do that.

I took this picture of Doug and his brothers and sisters in Janet's back yard.

They were hamming it up a lot and I took a lot of pictures

but this is the only one with everyone looking decent enough.

I've known these people for a lot of years.

We were all young parents together

having our babies and learning how to do life.

We've been with each other through the good times

and the hard times in our lives.

We've laughed together and cried together.

We've camped and hiked and traveled and shopped together.

We've had countless family gatherings.

It is really something to think about,

the lives that become interwoven with your own,

just because you marry someone.

Doug's family is one of my blessings.

Hey Cabana Boyz

So.

What, exactly, did Del Rey and Jacque do

while Abbie and I were on our bikes for hours?

This:

And this:

And, well, this:

Then it looks like Jacque did some work,

food handlers gloves on,

getting the food ready for the riders when they came in:

And it is all very lovely in the pictures

But it looks like some volunteers thought it was for them.

Because I'll tell you what,

the pickin's were slim when Abbie and I went to eat.

And things did get hopping

once riders started crossing the finish line.

And as one of the

Cabana Boys

Jacque was mixing and serving up a lot of tropical drinks.

And I think he was enjoying it quite a bit.

And Del Rey?

Well, he was putting leis around the necks of the riders,

as they came across the finish line,

and congratulating each and every one.

Except for us.

Somehow we got missed

in the excitement of the

finish-line-photo:

But in the end all was made right

and our leis were donned

and our tropical drinks with umbrellas were given

and we had a photo shoot with the

Hawaiian Big Bad Wolf

(he's there every year)

(this year he was in a hula skirt)

(he is always a little creepy)

And as for our Cabana Boyz?

They're pretty darn cute.

And if anyone is having a luau in the near future

Del Rey and Jacque are your guys.

Hawaiian shirts and all.

Here Comes The Sun

My dad was an Air Force pilot and so we lived in and traveled to some pretty fun and interesting places. From 1968-70 we lived on the tropical island of Guam. I was in Jr. High School during those years. It was a very fun existence, a really fun time. 

I spent a lot of time in the sun during those two years on Guam. We practically lived at the Officer's Pool, swimming, tanning, ordering a Shirley Temple and fries at the snack bar. Oh, it was a good life. 

While we were there a military girl, Hilary Best, won the title of Miss Guam and went on to compete in the Miss Universe pageant. I would see her at the pool and was very envious of her tan. She. Was. Tan.

So what does an impressionable 13 year old do? Copy. No matter that I was a freckle-face. No matter that I didn't have the kind of skin that would glow golden bronze. 

The going thing back then? Olive oil. Yes. The stuff you brown your meat in. It made sense. Brown meat. I'm meat. I can brown. Brown me!

WHAT WERE WE THINKING??

To her credit, my Mom did say once that she didn't think it was a good idea to use olive oil as sun tan oil.  But this was, after all, long before skin cancer was invented or SPF or any of that kind of thing...

AND! The Beatles had just given us our Anthem.

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun, 

and I say it's all right 

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter 

Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here 

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun 

and I say it's all right 

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces 

Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here 

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun 

and I say it's all right 

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes... 

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes... 

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes... 

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes... 

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes... 

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting 

Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear 

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun, 

and I say it's all right 

It's all right 

We were blissfully unaware.

After Guam I spent time tanning in the sun of California. Years later in the sun of Panama. Long Island. High altitude Utah.

And in that time skin cancer was invented. And SPF lotions. And now I'm just sort of waiting, and watching my abused skin manifest skin damage. Or worse.

Del Rey beat me to the big one, though. Some months ago he showed me a funny red patch on the side of his face that wasn't going away. We watched it for another month or so, and I finally said he needed to get it checked. Yesterday he had his appointment with the dermatologist and yes, he had himself a bit of pre-skin-cancer going on. The doc burned it off with liquid nitrogen. Yesterday he had a pretty big blister on the side of his face. When I saw it last night it made my knees weak and my throat kind of constrict. 

So this is actually a Public Service Announcement:

Do use sun screen.

Don't use olive oil.

Get your 15 minutes a day of sun for Vitamin D, but don't go overboard.

Watch your skin for "a sore that does not heal" (remember learning that in grade school? Hey, maybe skin cancer WAS invented back then...)

Have the skin doc look at funny things on your body.

Tans are over-rated. Hilary Best probably looks 20 years older nowadays than she really is.

Thank you for your time.

They Say It's Your Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Doug!

(you've already seen this picture-Thursday night-Italian with the office staff)

Happy Birthday, Doug!

(dinner with Doug's siblings and spouses-Friday night-Thai food)

(Hi Maggie and Rob! We want you to move back to the lower 48 so you can eat with us too!)

Happy Birthday, Doug!

Saturday night with the family-except for Jake who was at a Jazz Band festival.

Note the waiter behind Sam who sang a very funny "Happy Birthday" to Doug.

The Birthday Boy with his third free dessert!

This is a very funny family

It is a rare moment when I can get a normal picture

from anyone

ever!

Except for Abbie. She'll smile for me.

 

And finally...

Happy Birthday, Doug.

Sunday-the actual birthday-at home-Mexican

Including home-made chips

Once again, a not-serious-photo.

What is it with these people?

The cake with 20 candles-27 less than it should...!!

And on that happy note...

Happy Birthday, Doug!!

He Loves Me-He Loves Me Not-He Loves Me

Twenty-five years ago Del Rey and I had been dating for a few weeks. He wasn't Del Rey yet. And I wasn't Shirl yet. That is a story for another time.

But 25 years ago we were in the first delirious stages of dating. And along came Valentine's Day. The holiday of L-O-V-E. The celebration of all that is mushy and romantic and sugary.

I remember wondering what the appropriate response to this holiday should be.

How fancy should we be?

How lovey-dovey should we be?

How meaningful should we make this holiday?

It could have been a little awkward. But it wasn't.

It wasn't awkward at all because Doug, in all his clarity, gave me a bouquet of daisies.

Daisies! Imagine that. 

Not roses (typical-but too expensive for a college man).

Not carnations (typical-and cheap for a college man).

Daisies. Sweet, unassuming daisies. 

I was intrigued by this man. I was actually pretty much hooked.

And I couldn't get over the daisies.

Today he brought me my 25th bouquet of daisies (a day early so I can "enjoy them sooner and longer"). He can buy me bigger bouquets these days. Actually, he can buy me any kind of flowers these days, and sometimes he does.

But for Valentine's Day? It will always be daisies.

Always and forever.

More? YES!!

By golly.

He did it again.

Another bouquet of

beautiful, fresh flowers.

These flowers ought to see me

to the end of January

and into February.

And do you know what is so great

about February?

a) it is the shortest month of the winter

AND the year

and b) when it is February we can say,

"Next month is SPRING!!!"

Even if the weather is goofy

and Winter is stubborn about leaving

(like last year, oh, it was a l-o-n-g winter)

it is okay because

Spring will come!

And the fresh flowers remind me of that.

So.

Fresh flowers in the house:

a need or a want?

A necessary want.

I want them to be necessary.

Well. Whatever.

I'm just very happy to have them.

And Doug can bring them to me

any time of the year he wants!

He Loves Me

I love fresh flowers.

I especially love fresh flowers in the cold heart of Winter.

Doug knows that I love fresh flowers.

And every now and then he'll buy some for me.

Just because he knows I love them.

And just because he loves me.