sprite writes
broodings from the burrow

October 8, 2005


and happy birthday, aunt maude!
posted by soe 11:11 pm

Today also is my Great-Aunt Maude’s birthday. She said that when my dad was born she thought he was a birthday present for her. I think that’s such a nice way to look at things. So many others would have resented sharing their own special day with someone else. But that’s why Aunt Maude is so special — because she does genuinely feel that way.

Aunt Maude and I haven’t actually met, but she periodically sends me emails and keeps me in the loop on what’s going on in her life. I, sadly, am less faithful in my correspondence, but whenever I do write she seems so delighted to hear from me that I mean to write more (even if I fail with frustrating regularity to follow through).

So, please send a thought down the Carolina way to my Aunt Maude and wish her a truly happy birthday.

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happy birthday, dad!
posted by soe 11:08 pm

Today is my dad’s birthday.

Dad is a great guy — and I miss seeing him now that I’m in D.C. and he’s up in Connecticut. It’s funny, but we actually saw more of each other when we lived here and my folks lived there. And we still saw lots of each other when we were both down there. But now it’s just a few times a year and I miss our lunchtime chats and our Sunday rides to get the newspaper.

He brings such a reassuring way of looking at the world to the table — optimistic and open-minded and upbeat all at once, but not in an annoying way. He’s also a little bit of the old fashioned dad — wise and a bit protective, but willing to let you make your own mistakes, á la Judge Hardy.

Dad’s birthday has gotten pushed to the side a bit this year as I frantically run around trying to finish a wedding present and as Rudi writes a best man speech.

I didn’t get a chance to make him Gramma cookies the way I like to. I know he understands (and that he’s probably just fine with an IOU), but I don’t want him to think that he’s less important to me than my friends. He’s not — and it’s because of things like him being cool about the cookies.

So, happy birthday, Dad. I love you.

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