Perfect Weekend

I suppose I post too often about the weather but considering how it affects my mood It's not surprising. For instance today is supposed to be showery but it's been a pretty steady rain and I find I'm a bit crabby about it. However, the previous 4 days were just about perfect and for this time of year something of a miracle.
We puttered in the garden, went for a walk on the beach and reveled in the 20 degree sunshine.

In fact, on Sunday evening we had our first-of-the-season outdoor dinners and sat out on the balcony until 8:30 without even turning on the gas heater. At the height of the summer it will be too hot on this side of the house but for now we are enjoying it.

Mary's Birthday

This year's birthday was one of "those" for our friend Mary and for various reasons we decided to have the joint celebration at our house this time. Since we were in AZ, Atarah was in charge of organizing the food brigade and we got home in time to get the house set up for dinner for 17. What we discovered is that in this much smaller house we can actually seat more people because of the layout. We borrowed a folding table and some chairs and stuck it on the end of our dining table. There was enough room to have added another one which, in a theory that I don't really want to test, means we should be able to seat 22 quite comfortably. The secret to success is to leave the extra table and chairs folded until dinner is ready to be served 'cuz that leaves room for guests to mix and mingle. Thank you Joan Snowden for that clever plan.

None of which says anything about Mary the person so I am posting what I wrote for her birthday book:

Mary is the friend that everyone needs and a few of us are lucky to have. She embraces life and enriches it with warmth, exuberance, honesty, and humour. Who can count how many celebratory meals, cups of tea, and glasses of wine have we enjoyed together. And who can count the “problems of the world” we’ve solved and the opinions we’ve shared on every imaginable topic including the lives of our mutual friends! We met Mary through SMUS and then we became neighbours for a few years and happily consider ourselves part of the extended Humphreys family. Jim and Mary share a March 18^th birthday as well as many Pisces traits. She calls him her ‘sparring partner’ and he feels privileged to be linked to her.

At school Mary always encouraged the waifs and strays. Her choirs were huge joyful groups and a particular boon to the confidence of many ESL students. She was the sounding board and comfort for all and sundry, student, teacher and parent. School choir trips were adventures: Cuba, Japan, Hawaii and New York City to name a few.  Mary handled problems with aplomb so parents could relax; who forgets Don Sutton’s leather jacket incident in NYC!

Mary’s energy seems limitless with never ending concerts to attend, musicians to encourage, friends to take care of, meals to prepare, and soup to deliver. It is impossible to be ahead of her in recognizing and supporting the small or large life events of her ‘family’. Her “rosemary for remembrance” bouquets mark many occasions or there might be sweet peas, freesia, a yellow rose, or some small detail that lets you know she was thinking specifically about you.

Not shy to share her beliefs, they are delivered with love if it is something you should do or change and with fire if it is about someone who has been hurt or a wrong that needs righting. She wants to fix broken wings and bruised souls and her Lancashire/Yorkshire practicality and bluntness has served us all well. Everyone is included in everyone else’s issues if Mary thinks we have something useful to contribute, such as Keith who has a cross-Atlantic 24/7 medical consultancy. At the same time she has great respect for people’s privacy and ability to get on with their lives so she doesn’t meddle and she definitely doesn’t gossip.

My summary would have to be that Mary is about heart. She cares deeply and lives fully, and makes us all better and happier people for knowing her. Hers is a life well and truly lived.