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Posts Tagged ‘Holidays’

Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive* #NYE #2024 #BuhBYE

Posted in Friends, Travel, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 31, 2024| 2 Comments »

Dear 2024:

You were a mixed bag. A review of my posts this year reflects high highs and low lows.

For this post, though, I’m going to focus on the positive.

I got to see both of my sons at Christmas. Joy!

  1. My younger son (Gideon) chose to study environmental science at the university for which I work. That means free tuition, a great education, and I get to see him all the time. He earned two As and a B in his first semester and loves it.
  2. My older son (Dominic) attended Navy A School in Pensacola, Florida, graduated fourth in his class, and is about to go to Norfolk, Virginia. He seems happy, mature and focused.
  3. Ex (Eddie) is dating a lovely woman who was gracious enough to invite me over for Christmas dinner.
  4. My man friend and I got to explore more of Oregon: Bend, hot springs, Seal Rock, Eugene, etc.
  5. Got to see St. Louis family, framily and friends for Thanksgiving. Man, I miss that town and those people. Gideon went with me, begrudgingly according to him. At the end, he had this to say, “I actually had a good time.” Actually. 🙄
  6. Though I miss St. Louis, I love my job and my coworkers. Oregon is growing on me.
  7. Wendy and Wallace visited me this month, and we managed to all spill beer on Wallace. Lucky him!
  8. I’ve been taking care of my granddog (Vince) while Gideon is with his father on winter break. Leo and Vince are getting along. That in itself is a Christmas miracle.
  9. Saw “Wicked” the movie, “DRAG the Musical” and “A Wonderful World” in New York, along with friends Michael, Shane, Jason and Brooke while I was there for my birthday.
  10. Also got to see my birth father. Third year in a row of going out to see him as part of my birthday weekend. Cool, right? Seems fitting. And we are trying to make up for lost time.
  11. 36-hour Tina broke her own record. New moniker: 20-hour Tina. She got into New York at 2 p.m. on my birthday, and I dropped her off at La Guardia at 10 the next morning. In between, we ate at trendy Cocodaq, participated in “Life and Trust,” shopped at Bryant Park, and stayed at the notorious Standard High Line.
  12. I won “Squid Game: The Experience.”
I won the mask I’m wearing, entrance to the VIP lounge, 20% off items in the gift shop, and bragging rights.
Brooke told me I was the only one to make it across the finish line in Red Light, Green Light. All those years of having to freeze in various plays during my MFA years paid off!
Brooke and I enjoy the Squid Game VIP lounge.
Hour Two of 20-hour Tina’s visit
Look at this chicken. In the bucket. (Not Tina, as she’s fairly brave.)
Birthday brunch with Michael — a delight!
I always have to see the Rockefeller Center tree.
And watch the OG Grinch every year.
While I was visiting the boys in Savannah, I picked up a few necessities I can’t get in Oregon.
Leo and Vince
See? Getting along.

I’m hopeful that 2025 has more ups than downs, but I remain thankful for the abundance of joy in my life.

Happy New Year!
Beth

*Johnny Mercer, of course.

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Eat it* #ThankfulThursday

Posted in Random, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on November 28, 2024| 4 Comments »

Hey kids!

Auntie Beth knows the holidays can be polarizing, and it’s not just because of voting habits.

It’s the cranberry sauce.

There will never be peace between the warring factions of jarred vs. whole berry.

For the record, Auntie Beth likes them both.

Grandma Kathy’s is a whole-berry house.

Let’s start there and examine the Thanksgiving staples:

Whole-berry cranberry sauce FTW.
Also polarizing: green bean casserole. Auntie Beth is a fan.
Not a fan of gravy, though.
Mashed potatoes with the secret ingredient: cream cheese. Not great for the waistline, but worth it.
Mac and cheese with about 27 different kinds of cheese.
Dressing (NOT stuffing as it didn’t go in the turkey).
Keep the carb fest going with rolls.
Roasted carrots with sage and brown butter.
A little salad so folks can pretend to be healthy.
THE MAIN EVENT
Pumpkin pies: Libby’s regular on the left, fresh on the right.

For this Thanksgiving, we also had some different choices:

Brie and fig jam puffs
Deviled eggs
Whatever these are (delicious)

What are some dishes you can’t live without for Thanksgiving? Tell us all in the comments.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Auntie Beth

*Weird Al

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From SAV to RTC #TuesdayTraining

Posted in Parenting, tagged , , , , , , , on December 26, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Dear Dominic,

I’m so glad you were able to call me yesterday. It was the one present I wanted on Christmas, but didn’t think I’d get.

Hang on. There’s something in my eye.

OK.

I’ve sent three letters to you at Navy boot camp, and you had the nerve to tell Gideon on the call that you really wanted letters from him and your dad.

“Not that I don’t love your letters, Mom,” you said.

Sure.

And yes, I’ll send plenty of pictures of Vince. That dog misses you, for sure.

I do too.

It’s crazy that so much has happened since I saw you for Thanksgiving.

I mean … so much. The Monday after Thanksgiving, you passed another PST, got your orders the following week, and shipped out about 10 days later.

To be a Navy SEAL is a difficult path, and few make it. You are stubborn, though, and will follow through if it is your idea and something you want.

I’m proud of you.

I miss you.

I love you.

Hope to hear from you again soon. Be careful.

Love,
Mama

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Ho, ho, holy heck: What is that song?! #SundaySongs

Posted in Music, tagged , , , , , , on December 22, 2023| Leave a Comment »

I start listening to Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving. It’s all I listen to the whole month. I’m not ashamed.

Some songs I like much better than others.

Here are my Top 10 “classics” (30+ years old):

  1. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” Andy Williams. When I hear this, I know we are in my favorite season.
  2. “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” Bing Crosby. A true classic.
  3. “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” Band Aid. Nothing says Christmas like the “clanging chimes of doom.” Don’t listen to the lyrics. Just enjoy Boy George, Bono, George Michael, Sting and Simon Le Bon, among other ‘80s faves.
  4. “Winter Wonderland,” Eurythmics. I’m a child of the ‘80s. “A Very Special Christmas Album” is canon.
  5. “Sleigh Ride,” Ronettes. It’s so peppy.
  6. “Christmas Wrapping,” The Waitresses. It’s the bass line for me.
  7. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” by Brenda Lee. Try not to dance to it. I dare you.
  8. “You’re a Mean One,” Thurl Ravenscroft. The Grinch is the OG of holiday crankiness. I love him, but I don’t identify with him until his heart grows three sizes.
  9. “Merry Christmas Darling,” The Carpenters. Karen had some pipes.
  10. “All Alone on Christmas,” Darlene Love. I can’t explain why I like this one. I just do.

I also like “new” stuff. These are my favorites:

  1. “Underneath the Tree,” Kelly Clarkson. Love her in general. She seems normal.
  2. “Mistletoe,” Justin Bieber. Don’t say a word to me. I have no shame.
  3. “Like It’s Christmas,” Jonas Brothers. Again, no shame.
  4. “You Make It Feel Like Christmas,” Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton. It feels so HAPPY!
  5. “Merry Christmas,” Ed Sheeran and Elton John. I like Ed in general. Can do without Elton. But I like this song.

I just heard another contender today: “Fancy Like Christmas” by Walker Hayes. I love the original song (“Fancy Like”). This is a fun take.

Of course there are songs I hate too. I’m not even going to link them. I love you all too much to torture you.

  1. “Blue Christmas,” Elvis. Just the WORST. Draggy and thoroughly unenjoyable. The song itself isn’t bad. This rendition is dreadful.
  2. “Feliz Navidad,” José Feliciano. I just hate it. Only a few words over and over.
  3. “Little Saint Nick,” The Beach Boys. It feels like it’s stuck in first gear. Never gets going.
  4. “Winter Wonderland,” Katy Perry. I love her. I don’t love this. It’s not her best work.
  5. “Santa Baby,” Eartha Kitt. Yes, she’s a legend. But this song is lifeless. I prefer Madonna’s version. See No. 4 in the top 10.

Please tell me your favorite and least favorite in the comments.

Happy holidays!
Beth

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Party sub #SundayStories

Posted in Music, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 29, 2023| 5 Comments »

Dear Monét X Change,

I owe you an apology. I did not fully appreciate your work at the event last night.

As much as I like you in general, I was there for the sole purpose of seeing Big Freedia.

Everyone knows how much I love Big Freedia.

I mean, why else would straight, middle-aged me go to this?:

Lord knows that I am not the target audience.

My friend Wendy went with me. We were definitely the oldest people there by about 25 years. Two of a handful not in costume. And I’d bet a rainbow flag that I was the only heterosexual.

Not that any of this matters. It was a fun night. It was nice to get out, as my new job has consumed my life.

BUT we were there to see Big Freedia. And while I appreciate that you stepped in last minute when Freedia had a family emergency, I wasn’t really feeling your set.

I also wasn’t feeling the four bathrooms and two small bars for 500 people.*

I WAS feeling a new friend named Derek, though. Literally. He asked me to fix the garter buckle on the stockings of his sexy nurse costume. I was happy to help, and I ended up with what he proclaimed as my “new twink son.”

Anyway, thanks for your service.

Happy Halloween!
Beth

*not an exaggeration

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Story of My Life 5: You Only Live Twice #SentimentalSaturday

Posted in Parenting, Travel, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 7, 2023| 4 Comments »

Dear Friends and Family,

(You know the drill: Part 1, 2, 3 and 4.)

During my conversation with my father, he told me that he didn’t actually live at the address where I sent the letter. His ex-wife, Jan, still lives there with her son, my half-brother Brad. (They also have a daughter, Erin, my half sister.) Jan opened the letter, shared it with Brad, and he shared with David.

(After I asked Jan* about this part of the story, she said that when Brad called David, David talked about his crazy day. Brad said, “Dad, it’s about to get a whole lot crazier.”)

David now lives in Long Island in an apartment off my uncle’s house. (The apartment used to be my uncle’s dental office.)

Y’all. I mean. Can you IMAGINE Jan’s reaction? Brad’s? David’s?

I might have had to take some time to process, but David called me within 24 hours.

The call consisted of high-level catch-up, as you might expect. He seemed happy to know about me.

And Jan reached out to me on Facebook to welcome me to the family.

And Brad texted me to start a conversation.

How lovely is that?

David and I started talking regularly, and we decided we would meet when I visited New York for my annual birthday trip in December.

I flew into La Guardia and rented a car as the LIRR train schedule did not cooperate.

Brad: Have a good time! 
Me: Thanks. I'm on my way. Nervous. 
Brad: So is he!

David was waiting on his porch when I pulled up. He said he felt like a kid at Christmas. I did too. (Add some flop sweat that Santa doesn’t usually get.)

He had a present for me:

I suddenly became very aware of my nasolacrimal ducts. Why? When I met Kathy, she gave me a present.

It was a gift David had given to her for her birthday when they were dating. She kept it all these years because it was the one thing that connected the three of us. And I had told him about it.

Oh Lord: There’s something in my eye. Hang on.

OK. Proceeding.

He took me to the main house to meet my Uncle Terry and Aunt Rosemary.

As it turns out, they and their family and David spent plenty of time in Savannah because they have a place in Hilton Head. Again, I could have run into them AT ANY POINT and not known about our connection.

Also, I would be staying the night in Uncle Terry and Aunt Rosemary’s house.

Y’ALL. These people JUST met me. I am a stranger. So this tells you a little something about how my existence was received.

The four of us went out to dinner and had a wonderful time. When we got back, David brought out a cake for my birthday.

I lost it (but tried not to).

He got me an ice cream cake (Carvel FTW!) without even KNOWING I am not a fan of regular cake.

It was … a lot. (I know I keep saying it, but cut me some slack. It IS a lot!)

The next day, we went on a drive to key places of interest for him and the family.

We laughed. We argued good naturedly. We got to know each other.

We went to the Long Island Aquarium.

As we were watching the sea lion show, I thought about how completely bizarre it was to be there with him. This is the kind of things dads do with their daughters when daughters are children. But here we were, making up for lost time.

Oh look: My lacrimal sac is acting up again. One moment.

I’m back.

It was bone-chillingly cold. My father doesn’t have any body fat (one area where I did NOT get his genes), so we didn’t linger at the lions.

We went back to his place to continue chatting. Before long, it was time for me to head into the city for the rest of the birthday trip.

I had plenty of thoughts to keep me occupied on the drive, along with a debrief phone call from a blogger friend.

I TOLD YOU it was a wild ride.

Just a little bit more to go if you want to join me. The final part is coming soon.

XO,
Beth

* Yes, I talk to Jan. Another weird and wonderful part of the story.

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Story of My Life 3: Revenge of the Sith* #TuesdayTogetherness

Posted in Parenting, Travel, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on January 3, 2023| 6 Comments »

Dear Friends and Family,

The story continues, as promised. (If you are new here and need a recap, read Part 1 and Part 2.)

My birth mother Kathy and I started chatting weekly on the phone. And as you know, that’s a big deal for me. (Why do I hate talking on the phone so much?)

Topics? Large: I learned my birth father’s full name. Small: I learned we like our eggs the same way. (So that’s where I got it!)

She told me about all the family I had in the St. Louis area. You’ll remember I mentioned my mom Jeanne was from Missouri. Well, I spent my childhood visiting relatives all over the state: Kansas City, Jefferson City and also St. Louis. My favorite aunt and uncle lived in Hazelwood, Missouri — 25 minutes from my current home and 15 minutes from where Kathy lives.

It’s bizarre to think that I could have passed a member of my birth family in the grocery store.

Weird and wonderful, to say the least.

On one of our calls, I mentioned I had a dream that I had driven to St. Louis to see her. She said she did want to meet me. We started planning for Memorial Day weekend.

Y’all, this was … something. Talking on the phone was one thing. Actually meeting her was another.

She picked me up at the St. Louis airport. Her first words to me were these:

I haven't seen you in ___** years!

So yes, we have a similar sense of humor.

I’ve written about this part of the story before.

This is the day I met Kara and Lodell.

But here’s the important thing:

It was so easy. It felt right. I fit in. No awkwardness.

As George Bailey said, “What do you know about that?!“

We all set about building relationships — relationships helped by my move to St. Louis.

It’s gone better than I had any right to want.

The next step? Contacting my birth father. You know: One step at time.

That’s the fourth and final part. Also the most recent. As in past six months.

Don’t touch that dial!

XO,
Beth

*Yes, I know I’m being silly. But I’ll do it again for Part 4.

**Listen, a lady doesn’t share her age — even for the sake of a story. 😉

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Story of My Life 2: Electric Boogaloo* #SappySaturday #NewYearNewMe

Posted in Parenting, Technology, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 30, 2022| 2 Comments »

Dear Friends and Family,

So let’s recap quickly:

Howard and Jeanne adopted me and loved me fully.

Mom breathes in that new-baby smell.
I was a daddy’s girl. Completely.
I know I don’t seem happy and grateful in this photo, but I was. Later. 😉

I loved them and didn’t dwell on the thought of my birth family.

However, I will cop to entertaining fantasies of being surprise royalty. You know, “Princess Diaries” style.

We were the only ones in Atlanta. Dad’s family was in Pennsylvania/New Jersey and Mom’s in Missouri. (This becomes important in the next installment.)

We visited each family roughly every other year. I read books in the back of the car and alternately wanted a sibling and was glad I didn’t have one.

I grew up. Went to college. Graduated. Worked in journalism. Got the letter. Put the letter away. Started dating Eddie. Got married. Had kids. Searched their faces for any scrap of me. Found very little. (Eddie’s genes are strong.)

But sometimes it was there.

Gideon stars as the saddest baby in the world.
The only pic of Dominic where I can actually see a little of me.

My parents were always there. Rock solid.

But they didn’t take care of themselves. Their health declined. Mom passed in 2009, Dad in 2017.

For Christmas 2017, Eddie got me the best gift ever — a gift that keeps on giving.

It was an Ancestry DNA kit.

I swabbed and sent.

The results came back in the middle of a family tragedy. It was a much-needed bright spot to find a second cousin (Laura) with genealogy as a hobby.

I sent her that letter.

Not only did Laura know who my mother was, but she was going to see her the following month. I learned I had a half brother and sister.

So that was … a lot.

Laura met up with Kathleen and gave her photos of me and my family, along with my contact information.

For her it was … a lot.

Time passed as we both adjusted to the idea.

On this exact day (New Year’s Eve) in 2019, I decided my New Year’s resolution would be to write to my birth mother. I used my good stationery and employed my best handwriting. Sent it off once the holidays died down.

A few days later — Jan. 15, 2020 to be exact — I got a call from a Missouri number I didn’t recognize. I didn’t answer it for three reasons:

  1. I don’t answer calls from numbers I don’t know.
  2. I hate to talk on the phone.
  3. I was serving as Secretary in a Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce meeting.

I let it go to voice mail. Then I took a look at the transcript (Visual Voice Mail). 

"Hi Beth, this is Kathy, your birth mother ..."

You know that falling scene in “Vertigo?” Yeah.

Scary!

But it was also exciting.

I called back (because of course I did). We set up a time to talk properly.

And that brings us to Part 3 of this journey.

Until next time …

XO,
Beth

*In case you didn’t get the reference.

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The most wonderful time of the year #SundayStories #Christmas2022

Posted in Parenting, tagged , , , , , , on December 25, 2022| 4 Comments »

Dear Santa,

Thanks for bringing me the gift of time with new family this year. First Christmas with birth family on mom’s side. It was everything I hoped it would be and more.

Added bonus for 2022: Meeting birth father, David.

Thank you for that too. It’s plenty to process (and write about), so today I’ll just be thankful.

Somehow I must have made it on the nice list.

It’s a Christmas miracle. 😉

Love you, Santa!

See you next year,
Beth

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Welcome to my nightmare* #SundayStories #ScarySunday

Posted in Home Sweet Home, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 30, 2022| 5 Comments »

Dear Halloween,

I love you so much. Still. As I’ve said. And this year, I feel like I’ve taken advantage of the opportunities you provide.

Decorating the house? Check.

Haunted Mine? Check.

Costumed cat? Check.

Six Flags Fright Fest? Check. With the boys, even, who had a bit they did for the occasion.

Carving pumpkins? Check.

The Darkness haunted house? Check. Although that wasn’t without risk.

I wasn’t moving fast enough, so Dominic moved me into a doorframe. On accident. So he says. 😉

Scary movies and fire pit? Check.

I’ve even seen “Halloween Ends.” (I would not say it was worth the time and money. Maybe I’m just a hipster when it comes to franchises.)

I’m looking forward to seeing if I get trick or treaters this year — my first year in my house.

Anyway, thanks for being you. I’m a fan.

Love,
Beth

*Alice, of course.

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