Celebrate Good Times, Come On!

This past Saturday was the birthday of two very special people:  Nana Donovan and Uncle Steve.  

Ryan and I visited Grampa and Nana at their apartment to celebrate Nana's 92nd birthday.  Nana's usual sass was on display when she said she hoped her daughters would "lay out in lavender" one of her new enemies.  After we left, Ryan wondered if "lay out in lavender" was an idiom for killing someone.  Nana's tone suggested she might be plotting murder, but according to an online idiom dictionary, the phrase means to scold someone severely.  Mystery solved.  The birthday girl and her sweetheart are a wonder to behold, as Nana gets all fired up and Grampa not so subtly attempts to change the subject.  I am grateful to still have the opportunity to listen to Nana and Grampa's stories and banter.  Best wishes for a happy and healthy year for Nana Donovan!

After visiting with our grandparents, we drove to Provincetown for a spontaneous beach celebration of USteve's birthday.  Ryan and I had gotten together for brunch with USteve and Jeff earlier in the day and Jeff suggested that we all head to Provincetown to celebrate, as his friend's beach home was available for the weekend.  Surprisingly, all four of us agreed to take an unplanned road trip.  We left brunch to go home and pack for the Cape.  At 6pm, we pulled into the driveway of a gorgeous home with an ocean view.  After having a celebratory drink together on the porch, we put on our swimsuits and drove to Herring Cove.  The beach was picturesque, with the sun setting and a super moon rising.  We enjoyed an evening swim and then packed up our picnic dinner and headed home when Ryan started getting attacked by mosquitoes and broke out in a rash.  We had a lovely dinner and a nice visit with friends of Jeff's and Ryan's who who were in town.  I am a party pooper and did not hit the town that night, so Ryan will have to post about the P-town night life.  Many thanks to Jeff for making such a fun trip happen.  As we drove home the next morning, Ryan commented, "I think money can buy a person happiness."  Access to a fabulous beach house certainly lifts one's spirits.  Best wishes for a happy and healthy year for USteve!