Mom's Magnolia Tree

FROM Pattie:

Matt,

I don't know if you know the story of the magnolia tree. Mom loves them and when she and dad were first married, they planted one. Then they had to move. Then they planted another one and then they moved again. This went on until Mom finally stopped getting magnolia trees for fear they would move again. When she moved to her house after Dad died, we thought to get her one, but figured she'd think she would have to move...the final move. So we didn't.

When she was diagnosed I thought about it but didn't do it fast enough. I went to Armstrong's and they had a tree (a stick really) that had a few blooms. Next to that was a stick which looked to have some buds that I thought would bloom.

So I brought it home to Mom and planted it. Turns out they were just the leaves. Since I had waited too long, we figured it wouldn't bloom again until the winter. December or January. So guess what I found Thursday on the stick (Mom's term, not mine)? That's right...it appears to be blooming.

Mom is very excited about it. Anyway, I thought you could put these pictures up. The last one is the new double finch sock thing that we got. Mom is loving that too. The birds are all going crazy as usual.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Just wanted to show appreciation to everyone who sent birthday wishes to Mom. She loved it and loves all of you, as you must know.

Thanks a million!

Great Birthday Weekend II: Santa Monica Beach

Mom wanted to go to the Beach on Saturday, so we obliged. Erica and I talked the rest of the gang to coming to our neighborhood, and so we set up shop just south of the Santa Monica Pier. Mom wanted to make sure she came to a place with "big waves" and this spot was obliging , as their were dozens of students at the beachside surf school practicing in the water nearby.

The day started off chilly and cloudy, which was perfect for setting up, but soon turned gorgeous and sunny - sailboats , kites, and surfboards were in large abundance, although mom turned down the idea of a surfing lesson. She did get a ride in the "beach wheelchair" , a dune buggy like contraption made for riding on the sand. It turned our group into minor celebrities, as numerous people came by to inquire about it and/or demand rides.





Just a wonderful , wonderful day.

A Great Birthday Weekend: Musso and Frank

I've been lucky enough to share a birthday with my mom, (hers is the 21st, mine is the 19th, ) and this weekend was the highlight of them all.


Friday night a large group (including Roni, who was visiting) of us gathered at Musso and Frank. Musso and Frank is a famous old Hollywood joint, the "oldest restaurant in Hollywood: , an old fashioned steak place where the waiters wear jackets and ties and the cocktails are not to be trifled with:

http://www.seeing-stars.com/Dine2/musso&frank.shtml


We went there for Mom and Dad's anniversary a number of years ago, and Mom is quite fond of their Manhattan's. So it was a special place to have a birthday dinner for the two of us.




PS A Musso and Frank story:

I'm fond of telling this one. My Dad told us how he had come to Musso and Frank decades before during World War II. The last place he trained before being sent to the Pacific Theater was Edwards Air Force Base north of Los Angeles, during weekend furloughs the airmen would often join the rest of the soldiers and sailors swarming Hollywood at the time. My dad and the rest of his crew ended up at Musso and Frank and he order a drink. The surly bartender demanded to see ID, which my father, being 19 years old at the time, didn't have. He was always pretty quick thinking when it came to aquiring alcohol, and after a slight pause, pointed at the rank on his sleeve and blurted out: "But I'm an officer! You HAVE to be 21 to be an officer" The first part was true, the second was not. The bartender thought for a second and said "Oh yeah, that's right" . Dad, got his drink. We drank a bottle of red from the Dan Lynch Winery in Napa in honor of him.

Sunday is Massage Day

Eileen's friend David came over to give Mom, Bean and Erica reflexology. A good time was had by all.

The One Armed Bandit

Pattie took Mom to the Santa Ynez Valley early this month to visit her friend Sholeh. Kyra accompanied them. Sholeh has a beautiful place , with a pool mom and Kyra enjoyed, as well as a native plant yard, which Mom inspected (Not as nice as her yard, of course, but close.) See photo

The Santa Ynez Valley is a few hours north of LA, just above Santa Barbara. Beautiful scenery, lots of wineries (think "Sideways", don't think "Michael Jackson")

All of which Mom loves, but not as much as the slots at the local Chumash Indian Casino! She came away slightly ahead, which, as always means she won big.

Matt

Just some old photos, thanks to Pattie. Including a new take on an old favorite. If anyone has any others
they'd like to share email them to me
at mmlynchla@gmail.com


Mom is doing well, taking daily naps, relaxing on her patio, exploring vegan cooking and of course getting as worked up as everyone else over politics.

We are blessed.


Matthew