Happy Birthday to my cousin and best friend, Janet.
I have known her all of my life, shared all the fun and angst of growing up, and as we crossed into our fifties, we have become closer and closer.
Please know, you have all of my love and will forever!
Best friends, all our lives!
Love you!!!
Tonight we had my cousin, Larry over for dinner. I don’t see Larry as often as I would like, so this was pretty special to me.
Anyway, I decided to make some good old fashioned comfort food. Home-style meatloaf , mashed potatoes, and gravy, with corn on the cob. I also bought a light, fluffy, strawberry cake that was simply divine!
This was taken a few years back. My cousin Larry, my sister, Melodie, my cousin, Rikki, and me.
We sat around, talking and sharing, and enjoying each others company. We’re hoping he will come back soon to visit and bring his wife, Cindy. Although, since they are building an addition to their house, it may not be anytime really soon. But we shall see.
The best part was to watch Larry and Lili. She just loves him, and Larry is so good with dogs. He took her out for a walk and then played ball with her until he left. Currently she is on the sofa drowsing.
It’s funny how you meet people these days. Years ago I met Bernie and his late wife, Louise online. They kept a blog and so did I. Soon we were messaging off our blogs and becoming friends.
Tragically, Louise passed from this world to the next and her physical presence is deeply missed, even though she lives in our hearts.
I was lucky to meet Bernie back in 2010, when I was in Berlin, Germany breeding Anneliese, and he was there on business. We hit it off right away!
Today is Bernie’s Birthday. I want to wish him a happy day and a healthy year ahead! You are deeply loved and cared for by all you friends and family!
Here are my older brother and sister, Richard and Melodie. This picture was taken in front of our home on Clipper Lane, in Falmouth, Massachusetts. I was not even a glimmer in my parents eyes at this point. Arriving 5-1/2 years after my sister and 7-1/2 after my brother.
I’ve always loved these pictures of them, so adorable in their outfits, as they stood holding hands. They were best friends all of my brother’s life, until his untimely death at the age of 26 from cancer. We both still miss him very much.
Yesterday, February 4th would have been my Grandma Honey’s 117th birthday. It’s difficult to imagine her at that age. She passed from this world into the next 30 years ago. She was a very important woman in my life, and taught me so much. Even now, I miss her like crazy!
Here she is, Mary Frances Daniell the day she married my Papa, Frederick Carl Prussman.
This is a picture of me, walking with my first wirehaired dackel, Shubi, and my friend, Otto in the forest near Otto’s home in Bavaria. He was such a wonderful man and I enjoyed the years that I knew him. He was a close friend of Jack’s and I met him shortly after we married. I was amazed at how much he knew, how many languages he spoke and yet, he made everyone he knew feel special.
He’s been gone a while now, having died from cancer, but I think of him often with love and admiration.
Sunday I went to a Memorial Service for the brother of a friend of mine. I did not know him well, but I am so fond of his sister and I simply ached for her.
His mother was there, and the expression on her face told me that she is in shock and not feeling too much, other than overwhelming grief. I ached for her too.
I sat trying to talk to people and not being very successful. It brought it all back to me, losing Katie, losing my brother to cancer, and all the emotions that go along.
It made me wish I could talk to my Mom and she is gone too.
I sort of feel that I am in a transition time. Going from being the grown child, to now being an elder member of our family.
But to everything…there is a season.
It’s been a year since our Mom passed. Every day I am thankful that she is no longer in pain.
Mom just loved all her great-grandchildren.
More than anything I am grateful for her parting gift to me.
You see, Mom and I are a lot alike. We both have wicked tempers and during my teen years we crossed swords more than once.
I often felt very much unloved. She was so much closer to my sister than she was to me. I was a mere accident. Or so I thought.
Then at her Memorial Service one of her friends (and I use that term losely!) said “When she told me that she was pregnant with you, I told her to get rid of it!” she hissed. “But she said no! She wanted you!”
All my life I wondered and suddenly here was my gift! Mom really did want me and she really did love me!
Mom’s last birthday June 28th 2013
I’m grateful that we knew she was dying. It gave us a chance to talk about what life would be like after her. We asked her how we would know she was with us. I thought she would say something like roses, beautiful roses. But no. She said she would be the beautiful butterfly that would fly around us.
I’ve missed her so much more that I thought I would. So many times I want to pick up the phone and call her, just to hear her voice.
Miss you so much Mom!
My cousin Larry met the woman of his dreams and on Satursday they were married at The Cathedral of the Pines, in Ringe, New Hampshire. A totally beautiful place for a wedding provided the weather cooperated, and it did!
It was a perfect day for a perfect wedding. My cousin, Janet and her husband Dave, my sister Melodie and her husband, Ron and I, all witnessed the big day for our youngest baby brother/cousin!
Welcome Cindy! You have married into a truly wild and crazy family!
Me and my family! Love you all!!
Today is my sister, Melodie’s Sixtyfirst Birthday. She’s always been a very important person in my life, as well as my dearest sister!
It’s been both a tough and joyous year for her, with the loss of our mother, but she also has the greatest joy of watching her twin grandsons, Nolan and Gabriel grow, as well as her much loved Grandchildren, Abby, Taft and Luke.
Many people will never realize just how loved they are by Melodie. When she is in your life, you have a devoted family member or friend, who will do anything, and expect nothing more than a smile in return. My sister is a real gem!
Happy Birthday, Melodie!!! from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.
I wish for you a Happy Birthday, today, Mel and a wonderful year