Granddaughter goes to Vegas

Brings tears to my eyes to see my grandbabies grown up. Yep, two of them are in college. Second granddaughter is Junior this year and enjoying the times in her life that were so joyful in my own life. Youth is a gift which we think at the time, will last forever. I hope we all lived a youth that left delicious memories.

Today my oldest granddaughter is off to Vegas with her group of friends. Of course, and naturally, I sent her a little grandmotherly advice and mentioned where the best of everything can be found in Vegas and to make sure they see the Wynn Hotel.
The following was in my email stack this morning. It brought tears of joy to my eyes. She is a chip off the old block for sure.

Mimi,
We are actually staying at the Wynn....Supposedly there is a new steakhouse there as well that is said to be PHENOMENAL and we have dinner reservations there Saturday night. We are totally getting the star treament: Private jet with limo waiting for us at the airport that will stay with us the whole weekend :) and rumor has it we might be staying in the presidential suite. I went and splurged and got myself a very cute dress for saturday night. I should just say I bought it with the allowance you and Papa send me so THANKS :) love you tons and tons.
M.

What else could a grandmother want for her granddaughter. My heart will be with her this weekend.
Was only last year, my college friends and I went to Vegas. In our minds we were back college age again. Come to think of it, I could use another Vegas fix myself. Ready to go girls?
June

Deathbed Confession

For sure never know everything that whirls past us.

Out of the blue only a few weeks ago, I had a very nice email from a highschool friend. I didn't know him very well when we were in school, ~ I heard stories about him through the years ~he had become a physician and he had a interesting life ~
but our paths never crossed again. I remember thingking he was 'cute.' (Highschool mentality.)

When the email arrived, I could 'see' him as he was those many years ago. His email told me how he would walk completely out of his way between classes everyday just to talk with me. He said he remembered my personality and remembered my brother being 'a nice guy too.'

I was so surprised and of course, that made me happy to know, however, I couldn't remember EVER talking to him. This makes me think he only thought we talked. But that was 100 years ago. After all these years, he tells me this. Very shortly afterwards he went for heart surgery. I sent a card.
Yesterday I recieved a group email to all our classmates saying he has died.
I feel doubly sad.
His finally telling me after all these years that he had noticed me and remembered me ~ of all things. We never know all that whirls around us. He finally 'talked' to me just before he died. How sweet can that be? God Bless His Soul!
iJune

Fascination Continues ~ Cleopatra

I had come to Egypt to see the Nile River, Sphynx and Pyramids but now...the more I saw of Egypt, the more I wanted to walk in the footsteps of history. I had many questions. I should have studied Egyptology before going. I needed now a historical timeline of events.

Moses lived 1500 years before the birth of Jesus. Where and when did Cleopatra fit into their history.

Cleopatra Born 69 BC - Died 30 BC (Age 39)

After seeing the movie aaa "Cleopatra", what woman isn't fascinated by her, her life and how she died?

I hoped to learn more "insider info" about her, however, my host and his wife did not share my view saying her life and history ~ "too new to be as interesting."

They were more into the Pharaohs dating back 6000-7000 years. I loved them too, but now, I wanted to know about the woman who once ruled Egypt.

Reading about her answered a few of my questions.

Cleopatra was born in 69 BC in Alexandria, Egypt. Alexandria is north of Cairo and on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
Her history is worth reading.

"Cleopatra VII" was not as pretty as her charm and ambition, that made two Roman leaders - Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony - fall into deep love with her.

She bore Caesar a son, Caesarion. He was surgically removed from her womb, giving the name to such births. We continue to use that name "caesarean section " births.

After Caesar was murdered, she and Mark Anthony had a romance which is interesting reading.


From him, Cleopatra gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Later she had another child by Mark Anthony. History moves along here. Mark Anthony died by falling on his sword after losing a battle and we all know how Cleopatra chose to die.

The visions from in the movie were in my head as I read from history the actual account of her final day.

"She had an asp, which was an Egyptian cobra, brought to her hidden in a basket of figs. She died on August 12, 30 BC at the age of 39. The Egyptian religion declared that death by snakebite would secure immortality. With this, she achieved her dying wish, to not be forgotten." She was buried with Mark Anthony as they both wanted.

After Cleopatra's death, her son from Caesar, Caesarion was strangled ~ the other children of Cleopatra and Mark Anthony were raised by Anthony's wife, Octavia.

I find this very interesting. Do you?

iJune

Baby Shower April 08 for Baby #8

Baby Shower ~ A happy event and fun for all. Thirty were invited and thirty plus were there. Spirits were high as always when this group is together. It seemed to be every one's party.

Jennifer was the perfect hostess.

Molly did the cake and flower arrangement that you see and all other foods were done by the two grandmothers of the expected baby girl. We can't wait to 'meet' her.

Always looking for new little games...we did "Name the baby." Everyone added a their 'girl' name to the list which was read by Katherine. Was fun just to hear. Some were oldies. I put "Della." Another game was "Bingo"...a blank bingo print was used to filled all the spaces with baby items. As she opened her gifts, we could X that item on our Bingo card. The first to 'bingo' as she opened her gifts got a prize. That was lots of fun as we all were really attentive to the gifts.

One of the cutest was a tiny bathing suit.

The Mother of the baby was truly SHOWERED with love and loving gifts.

Jane hand made a blanket for 'her' and the cutest sock arrangement I have ever seen.

Socks had been touched up with color around the top to match any outfit she might wear.

A wonderful day in our lives.

iJune

Earth Day ~April 22

From Janis ~
And totally worth an entire blog.

You CAN make a difference AND influence others on EARTH DAY. Our children and grandbabies need our leadership here.

While we should celebrate the Earth every day, April 22 is Earth Day. Please make plans to do something special; public as well as private displays of respect for the earth. Plant a tree with children. They can mark their growth by the tree's growth.

Make it a goal to throw as little as possible in the trash. Compost all coffee grounds, vegetables, and peelings. Recycle all glass, paper, plastic. DO NOT use even one plastic water bottle, refill a thermos if you want water. DO NOT accept one bag from the grocery store. Take your own, already used ones from home, or use one of those multiple use bags you can buy at the store. Can you possibly not use any lights that day? Rely on the light outside and just go to bed when darkness comes.

Here is a poem that I found in Elbert Hubbard's Scrapbook (copyright 1923). Please let your friends know how you will/did spend Earth Day.

Leaf after Leaf Drops Off
by Walter Savage Landor

Leaf after leaf drops off,
flower after flower,
Some in the chill, some in the
warmer hour;
Alive they flourish, and alive
they fall,
And Earth who nourished them
receives them all.
Should we, her wiser sons, be
less content
To sink into her lap
when life is spent?

Wine Dinner

Five courses, each matched with the perfect wine made for a perfect evening.

The cozy Foundation Restaurant was reserved last evening for our event which was an early sell out and no doubt will be repeated.

With each course,

the Chef came out dressed in the traditional all white, big white apron and chef's hat to discuss each course and the Wine Steward, dressed in Tux, did the same for his wines selected.

By the end of the 4th course, they had difficulty stopping the conversations around the room. We had a great time.

Just the most interesting people in this world. One couple we met explained they had been "Happily unmarried for 28 years." Seems that is the norm for seniors these days, but 28 years ago, they were hardly seniors. What a beautiful couple they are.

Another, one of my favorites is a guy who looks and sounds exactly like Sam Elliott.

I love to hear him talk. He has spent lots of time in Argentina and knows the Argentina wines. Looks as if our next trip will be to Argentina.

Meeting people is one thing and getting to know people is another. I have to say, it's amazing to get to know such diverse and interesting people.

The amazing part is to realize there are so many ways to spend your life. Seems many in this group have lead a more free spirited lifestyles of any group I have ever known.

I really like that as seems they are truly enjoying their lives ~ there is never a dull moment when with them.

iJune

Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus in Egypt

"Would I like to see a
water well where your Holy Family stopped to rest when they were escaping into Egypt?" the Egyptian General asked me. He knew they story quite well.

Amazed as again, I had not known of such. "I really would," was my answer. How nice, he arranged for the day off to take me. He knew in the area where this was found, so we were off to explore the northern area of Cairo looking for this ancient well. I had NO IDEA what to expect.

The history of the Holy Family's flight from Bethlehem and Jerusalem is well known. To murder all boys age two and under back in those times was done for any reason the ruling King might have. In the days of Moses, that order was given to control the population of the Hebrews. Now, when Jesus was born, word spread that a new King had been born, which was a threat to King Herod who ordered to destroy the infant in a mass murder. He sent his soldiers out to slay all boys under the age of two.

The Holy Family were warned to flee and left Bethlehem. Their arrived in Jerusalem eight days after the birth. Here, they had the baby circumcised and then traveled on their escape route by crossing into Egypt and make it over the large barren desert.

I have no expectations as we stopped to ask help from several people along the way. For sure, I had been will off the tourist path thus far. Arabic language was becoming familiar, but naturally, it was Greek to me. (smile)

Finally,

In a housing project of four story apartments building on windblown sand roads and no trees was found what we were looking for.

The area was enclosed by a whitewashed concrete wall ~
and of all things...
right in the middle of these lower income apartment builds. Basically the city had extended into the desert here. We unlatched the gate to see a Garden ~ a Garden that someone has kept the Garden green and well preserved.

I couldn't believe what I saw. The walled in area was about 50' x 50 feet and in the center was a small round well. Surrounding were many very old trees, all green and some had been supported by beams to hold them up. Someone had brought ferns and made a square brick planter. The small well is in front of the large tree in the photo.


Next to it was the trunk of a dead fig tree with a new tree branching out from the bottom.




On the wall were three stories for visitors to read. They were in three different languages as well.

First Written Story....
"As the Holy Family crossed the desert, they found this well under a fig tree. They stopped to rest and eat figs. Far out on the desert, they saw soldiers on horses. A magic spider quickly spun a web around the Holy Family to make them invisible. The Soldiers didn't see them and passed on by. "

Second Story..."As the Holy Family crossed the desert, they found this well under a fig tree. They stopped to rest and eat figs. Far out on the desert, they saw soldiers on horses. The branches of the fig tree bent down to hide the Holy Family. The Soldiers didn't see them and passed on by. "



Third Story......"As the Holy Family crossed the desert, they found this well under a fig tree. They stopped to rest and eat figs. Far out on the desert, they saw soldiers on horses. The Holy Family climbed up and hid above the tree. The Soldiers didn't see them and passed on by. "

There was a small wooden box for donations. I opened my purse and emptied what Egyptian pounds I had into the box. I was very moved.

June