About Me

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I am a retired English teacher and department head, the mother of three grand mother of four, and have been married to the same man for 52 years. I subscribe to Dr. PM Forni's concept of Civility. I was born in South Philadelphia and grew up in the 'burbs. I love soft pretzels and cheesesteaks, the Phillies, the Eagles, and San Diego. I love being Mom, Aunt Kathy, Nona Kathy, and Teacher. I spend a lot of time in my gardens in the spring and summer, and in the winter I plan what I'm going to plant. I also am an avid reader and photographer.

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Tuesday, June 9, 2009

I'd Like to Thank My Mom...

It was sunny and 87 until about 15 minutes ago when the sky turned an inky pea-black. I'm going to shut down as the thunder and lightening are rather formidable. Be back in a few.

Well that was scary! Simultaneous lightning and thunder -- the kind you can feel in your tooth fillings!

Thank you to Cheryl, Brad, and Jay and the many others two of you who sent birthday wishes. It's really, really hard for me to believe I am 58 years old as I still feel like I'm in my 30's -- which actually are a complete blur because I was up to my schnutz in diapers and little ones, and fearful I'd 'lose myself' in being a stay at home mom. I didn't. The kids reassure me that I was a good mom, and they're happy grown ups, so I must have done something right. But again, I really don't feel 58. (This is where you're all supposed to say, "Well you don't look a day over 45!!!). So LIE!!
Two thirds of them are coming over tonight for some pizza and chocolate cake -- the one I bought at Costco and almost ate in the car. Here it is...

As good as it looks, it looks even better in person. Wish I could serve each of you a piece tonight. My brother, Jay, called from Atlanta to ask if I'd gotten a license from Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) to light the candles on my cake. He said he had been getting calls about what everyone thought was a nuclear disaster. He said it was the smoke from the candles. He's dead meat, by the way, and had better start sleeping with one eye open.

I had a hair appointment with Cheryl - hair stylist extraordinaire (she did the best she could with what she had to work with)- this morning and then lunch at Nordstrom's Cafe with a good friend -- a young man I had mentored when he began teaching. Not only was he a wonderful teacher, he is now a fantastic administrator, an assistant principal who no doubt will have his own school in a very short time. I love retirement, but I really miss my colleagues. Damn we had fun! And when things got tough (and believe me, things often got tough (I got pretty good at breaking up fights (and these were among the teachers))) we also got the job done.

It's been a nice birthday. Thanks, Mom!

13 comments:

happyone said...

Happy Birthday Kathy! That cake looks delicious.
That was some storm we just had and I hear the rumble of thunder now as I type this.
Enjoy that cake!!!

Cheryl said...

Sounds like a good birthday. Glad I could spend some time with you today. Your hair looked great, if I must say so myself! The chocolate cake...I want some. Lean Cuisine spaghetti and meat sauce leaves a little to be desired. Like a slice of cake. The storm was crazy. I was glad to be inside working! Enjoy the rest of your birthday. Oh, btw, you don't look a day over 37 :)

Jay said...

Pizza a cake sound much yummier than the chicken I had tonight.

Glad you had a Happy Birthday!

TAG said...

A happy happy day indeed.

Hope you get to enjoy many more with each in good health.

TAG

Sweet Virginia Breeze said...

Happy birthday Kathy!!! No way are you 58. "You don't look a day over 45!!!" Hope you enjoyed your cake. It sure does look good. Yum.

We're getting a thunderstorm now, but I'm sure not as bad as the one you had. Just more glorious rain on my garden.

Enjoy what's left of your special day...

Purple Flowers said...

I'm glad you had a great birthday. I loved your brother's comments about the firearms. I'm still laughing.

Gilly said...

Happy Birthday - 58 is the new 45!! You are a mere yooungster!

That cake looks delicious, I am drooling all over the keyboard!

Neponset River Bridge Dig said...

Hey Kathy Happy Birthday! I'm sure after Cheryl got through with you, you looked more like 38.

Hey what does a retired school teacher do with her summers off - teach summer school, maybe?

Rick Rockhill said...

Glad you enjoyed the birthday Kathy. I know that chocolate birthday cake from Costco quite well! I am drooling from just thinking about it.

beachgirl said...

Happy belated birthday Kathy.
I don't feel or act my age either. Which is a good thing I think.

That cake looks really yummy.

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

Sorry I'm late to this, but I hope you're still celebrating! It sounds like you had a lot lined up.

And that cake looks divine.

Happy belated birthday, and many, many more.

jane said...

happy birthday kathy! you don´t look a day over 35! "schnutz" haven´t heard that word in a while. That cake does look good. Hope you had a great day! sending you lots of hugs. we´ll have to celebrate again when i´m there.- any excuse to eat choc cake!:)

teachmama said...

Here's to missing some very cool colleagues from Wilde Lake... What a trip that was, despite the tough times, we always seemed to laugh hard when we needed to.

Hope you had a great birthday, Kathy--

amy