Champagne and Chocolate: May 18th, 1-5pm

It's hard to believe it's been three months since Mom left for her celebration in Heaven. I have to be honest. The past few months for me have been mixed with emotion. People say that's completely normal. Just when I think I am "ok" and life seems to be back to "normal" some little moment, memory, song, a remark, etc...can trigger me to cry.

In fact, I was at my annual doctor appointment last Friday and just the mere question "How are you? Has anything changed?" brought me to tears. My doctor was quick to supply a kleenex and I embarrassedly told her I wasn't sure what overcame me. But as soon as she found out what I had been "up to" she too got tears in her eyes. I think (1) she has never in the 20+ years of knowing me, through the births of all 3 of my kids and life's obstacles, has ever seen me cry, (2) she related to my "moment" because she too had lost someone she loved, and (3) was taken back to see me so emotional because she said she knows how focused and tough I am.

So there you have it. I am human.

There have been a lot of great moments in the past 3 months too; like discovering that beautiful brand smacking new 1957 Flintridge "California" china that Mom and Dad received for a wedding gift — and she never used! What I wouldn't have given to hear the story behind it? Finding out that Mom was a Republican early on due to the signed Nixon photo and Nixon bumper stickers and buttons we found, and then I guess a Democrat based on the signed Carter photo. The cleaning out of her home has been a "doozy".

Her generation grew up in the great depression so I think it was in her DNA to save EVERYTHING! When I say everything I mean it. We found her W2 from the secret service before she was even married (circa early 1950's), her "VZD" monogramed suitcase that she packed with everything she owned — including letters her girlfriend's wrote to wish her luck in her new life as she drove across the Golden Gate Bridge (pre-marraige).

It has been a time capsule explosion for sure. God love her. She had lots of passions and projects that she was working on.

I digress back to the real reason I wanted to post this blog story in the first place. Since we have finally unearthed some great photos of Mom's life and I have created something I want to give people in Mom's memory — I wanted to share with you the date of Mom's Life Celebration.

We will host an open house to come by, say "hi", see people from the past, share a fun "vintage Virginia memory" or just sip on champagne and graze on chocolate with me as I continue to fill my Wonder Box.

I know she will be there with us loving every moment.

This photo of Mom was the one she sent in to the San Mateo Times back in 1957 announcing my Dad and her engagement.

Date: Sunday, May 18th, 2014
Time: 1-5pm (open house)
Address: 818 Knoll Drive, San Carlos, CA 94070
*Please no gifts, no flowers, no anything. Just your presence is a gift!

XO,
Betsy, Shawn, Ty, Chase, Blake, Bob and Linda