My 50 years in this country, Andrew’s belated 30th, and Andrew and Jenn’s house warming.

50 Years in America!

After a wonderful week of super weather before as well as afterwards, Saturday, August 23^rd , produced a cold, damp, and RAINY day.  Bill, Michael (nephew), Kitty (wife), Kerry (daughter) and I drove up to Martinsburg, West Virginia, to collect 13 huge platters of food.  Since the boot was full of chairs, we had to stack the platters 3 deep on our laps and it was quite a feat to remain comfortable for another 25 minutes of driving to Hedgesville where Andrew and Jenn live.  Twice we stopped and persuaded Bill to tie red, white, and blue balloons securely on two of the country roads’ sign posts so they would not fall off.  Alex (who had managed by the seat of his pants to get a flight to Dulles the night before and then drive on to Andrew’s) and Andrew had already put up large green signs to help everyone arrive.

Food Platters on Everyone's Laps

Then, after removal of the platters, we dashed out of the rain into the LARGE tent that I had rented and spent the next hour putting out the food, the drinks and other beverages, ice, the variety of 220 cookies I had baked, and the two long sheet cakes (one a white cake that had balloons on it and ‘Happy Birthday Alex and Andrew’ with a die-for thick rich chocolate filling and the other that was a carrot cake with a raspberry and cheese filling that said ’Congratulations Cherry, Andrew, and Jenn’) that had just been delivered.  Alex, Andrew, and Jenn had been running around to get the big tractor out by the entrance to the drive and which was filled with flowers with a welcoming sign.  The house was spotless and the grounds well weeded, grass cut, and decorated with flowering baskets.

The rain had subsided which was a blessing but it was still quite damp.  People started arriving though some had been held up by torrential rain on the highway.  About 65 friends and family showed up.  Mike made a toast after we had started eating, I followed explaining all the difficulties I had encountered in coming to and arriving in the States (such as not being met at the still-being-built Dulles because the Headmaster had forgotten I was coming, very little money for a taxi so I had to exchange some English pounds, being let off at the wrong spot, and then finding that my 3^rd grade teaching position (8 yr olds) had been given to someone else and I was now going to teach pre-schoolers), and finally Alex ended with a few words of welcome.

The Tent

Speeches

Group Shots

The rest of the afternoon was full of chatter, laughter, swimming in the pool (mostly children), playing games on the grass, bluegrass music, and later some fireworks.  Despite the weather, it was a wonderful celebration and such a delight to see so many friends and family members.  I was so glad and appreciative that they had persevered with the weather for the 2 plus hours’ drive.

We tidied up before we left though Andrew and Jenn had about 14 people staying overnight and they had to go inside and not tent outside because it started to rain again.  A huge breakfast was cooked the following morning before everyone left to go home.

I collapsed on the Tuesday after my company left and I am sure Andrew and Jenn did the same.  They worked so hard to get the place and house in great order made more stressful with Andrew’s military trip extending from 8 days to 3 weeks.  He arrived late on the Monday before and had so much to do to get the place ready.  Jenn had cleaned the house from top to bottom and, of course, because of the rain a lot of mown grass and mud got trekked all over the house.

It all worked out!  Hurrah and blessings and thanks to Bill, Mike, Kitty, Kerry, Alex, and Mom who helped Andrew and Jenn get everything ready in time.