Saturday, September 01, 2007
Another big anniversary
19 years ago this weekend, don and i (the one in tears) loaded two unhappy teen-age girls, a caged cat loaded with kitty downers, and proceeded to our new home in edina. it was not a pretty sight, and our stop in des moines was not that great either. mikey had growled softly or moaned most of the way, and was wandering around the motel room most of the night. the next morning we headed on north and when we reached our house, there was mary alyce waiting at the door for us. what a marvelous treat that was!!
the other part of this move, was that patrick who had decided to go to a university close to home, was suddenly faced with the fact that his whole family moved 400+ miles away from him! how bizarre is that? he was already in class when we left, so we packed up his things and put them in a new room, in a new house that he didn't see until thanksgiving weekend. (his welcome present to the new place was a case of mono which affected the rest of his college year!)
anyway, we went through many upheavals the first few years, but i think we all have thrived and grown with the transplant experience. it's hard to believe it's been that many years. edina does feel like home now, but the old good friends are still living in the old neighborhood in omaha, although there are lovely new friends here. there's something special about those women with whom i raised the kids.....nothings changes that.....ever. i feel so fortunate that i have been able to make friends here in this city.....i was afraid that i was too old to have the joy of new friendships. it seems sort of silly that i felt that way, but so many of the old friendships were formed or at least nourished by being active in the schools and our girls were beyond the age where moms took active part in the schools on a daily basis.
my ploy here was to become active in the arts, and very early on i joined a pottery class which at the time felt like a definite livesaver. it probably was! i soon found great friends there just like i'd found them in a similar class in omaha. amazing.
so.....happy anniversary to us!!
the other part of this move, was that patrick who had decided to go to a university close to home, was suddenly faced with the fact that his whole family moved 400+ miles away from him! how bizarre is that? he was already in class when we left, so we packed up his things and put them in a new room, in a new house that he didn't see until thanksgiving weekend. (his welcome present to the new place was a case of mono which affected the rest of his college year!)
anyway, we went through many upheavals the first few years, but i think we all have thrived and grown with the transplant experience. it's hard to believe it's been that many years. edina does feel like home now, but the old good friends are still living in the old neighborhood in omaha, although there are lovely new friends here. there's something special about those women with whom i raised the kids.....nothings changes that.....ever. i feel so fortunate that i have been able to make friends here in this city.....i was afraid that i was too old to have the joy of new friendships. it seems sort of silly that i felt that way, but so many of the old friendships were formed or at least nourished by being active in the schools and our girls were beyond the age where moms took active part in the schools on a daily basis.
my ploy here was to become active in the arts, and very early on i joined a pottery class which at the time felt like a definite livesaver. it probably was! i soon found great friends there just like i'd found them in a similar class in omaha. amazing.
so.....happy anniversary to us!!
Labels: anniversaries
# posted by jini @ 7:12 PM 
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really nice post. it's hard to believe 19 years have passed. i remember the tears, the cat groans, the fear, the general suckiness of that first week at school.
i also remember chuck inviting me to a concert that first month, meeting people at school who remain my close friends today, and our attempts at normalcy by organizing a surprise birthday party for you with our handful of high school friends. and the good stuff continued...
i also remember chuck inviting me to a concert that first month, meeting people at school who remain my close friends today, and our attempts at normalcy by organizing a surprise birthday party for you with our handful of high school friends. and the good stuff continued...
that first week was sucky.....i will never forget picking up a girl on friday who burst into tears that continued after returning home. the famous quote, "and you know, (sniff, sniff) the worst thing? my mother is my best friend" that one made me cry too.
that birthday party was amazing. i remember feeling sad while working that evening at nutrisystem (egads) and then driving home to see lights and balloons and new friends, plus a basket of goodies from omaha friends. an amazing act of supreme kindness and thoughtfulness by two loving daughters. now i have tears again!
that birthday party was amazing. i remember feeling sad while working that evening at nutrisystem (egads) and then driving home to see lights and balloons and new friends, plus a basket of goodies from omaha friends. an amazing act of supreme kindness and thoughtfulness by two loving daughters. now i have tears again!
Happy Minnesota Anniversary, Washburns.
Jini, with your warm, fun and caring personality, you could make friends where ever you go!
Love, LA
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Jini, with your warm, fun and caring personality, you could make friends where ever you go!
Love, LA
# posted by 
: 9/08/2007 8:43 PM
: 9/08/2007 8:43 PM << Home
