Ode To A Girl Scout

Oh you little sprite, all dressed in green.
You and your badges all sown on with honor and pride.
You are such a Carmel Delight to so many people.

You just Tag-A-Long without any complaint,
Just the Peanut Patter sound of your little feet brings a smile to many a face.
It makes us just want to Do-Si-Do with joy when we see you coming up our walk.

Oh you precious little Brownie Scout.
You are a gift to us all in your beanie.
Your Thin Mint-ens are always on your tiny hands.

You enrich our lives so.
You and Samoa of your friends are always a welcome sight at out lonely door posts.

Oh you little Daisy Scout.
You little Shortbread you!
What a Trefoil treat you bring us.

You are such special young entrepreneurs.
Many have tried to imitate, but none have succeeded.
We love you Girl Scouts.
We love you with all our cookie craving hearts.

Surprise! Surprise! Suprise!

My birthday was on Friday. I turned 5....fif....49 plus 1. Yeppers, I hit the big 5 - 0. I don't mind reaching that mile stone, it just that it seems so weird, so not normal to say that I am fifty. But you know what they say....Fifty is the new Thirty!!

Before I go any further, let me first say THANK YOU to all my friends and family who helped me celebrate my birthday.

As I take inventory of 50 years of my accomplishments, my failures, my experiences both good and bad, I realize how ridiculously blessed I am to have the honor to call so many amazing people my friend. Then, when I look at those that I am fortunate enough to call family, I am so very thankful for each and every one of you.

And I want to say a very special THANK YOU and I LOVE YOU to Danny, Chris, Kelly, Emerson, Elizabeth, Robert and Stephanie. You are far and above the best gifts I could ever hope for or dream of. You make me proud in who you are and your successes are just bonuses!

Here are a few pictures from the Nifty Fifty Surprise Party!! Enjoy.

Is it wrong that I start out with the cake?

I live for cake. Cake and I have been best friends for 50 years now. Cake is the only reason I attend weddings. This cake was amazing. It looks beautiful and it tasted just as good as it looks. The top layer was lemon with raspberry filling...yummy. The middle layer was Red Velvet...my all time favorite. The bottom layer was marble with custard filling. Fantastic. (A shout out to Kirin Hertzner, the cake artist!)

Emerson was the first surprise, then Chris and Kelly....

Then Elizabeth....
Rob came a little later.

Then Stephanie.

My sneaky kids!

Here I get to beat the stuffing out of 50!

And 50 just doesn't want to die!

Here are some of the guests...who by the way are very
good at telling untruths!!


Big Mommy and Emerson
(aka my Mom)

Andrea: Hmm, so that's what 50 looks like.
Stephanie: I will never be 50.
Elizabeth: Poor Mom, won't be long until we have to move her into the home.

I was queen for the day!
Thanks to everyone!!

Emerson, The Great Debater

Emerson has quite a passion for human and cat rights but holds his own very well up against Bill O'Reilly.




Film editing by CDC