Because the birthday of my life
Is come, my love is come to me. - Christine Rossetti
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| Tea - George Dunlop Leslie Oil on canvas laid down on board, 1894 |
My precious granddaughter, Little Beauty, turns five years old today, which calls for a truce in the warring emotions entangled in the grief process.
Today, I will set aside my sadness for a while and celebrate the birth of this sweet, charming, sometimes-stubborn, always-amazing, beautiful child who entered my life five years ago.
She makes it easy to forget my troubles. As children do, she can evoke a smile with her hug, a laugh with her questions, and like me, she enjoys dressing up and going out on the town.
So today, Little Beauty and I plan on donning our fanciest frocks and arriving in style for a tea party at Miss Aimee B's Tea Room in historic St. Charles. I'm pretty sure we'll turn a few heads, which will not embarrass us in the least.
We'll feast on the best quiche and muffins in the city, accompanied by their famous homemade lemonade. I promise you've never had a more refreshing drink...if you'd like to make it at home, HERE is the recipe.
Happiness will reign as Little Beauty becomes Queen for a Day.
Thank goodness that life goes on as it does, with children and activities and hugs and birthdays and beautiful sunny spring days to spur us on and pull us out of the doldrums for a spell.
Find the joy in each day...it's there, I promise.
Of course, the music for the day must be "The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba" by Handel. I can imagine the Queen for the Day making her entrance into Miss Aimee B's Tea Room to this lively, happy, grand entrance. Oddly enough, it's the same music that played in my head as my mother made her grand entrance into Paradise. Enjoy.
CiCi is one lucky little lady! Once again~ beautiful post, lovely music and great pics. Thinking about you and sending love, fun and healing for you today and every day.....
ReplyDeleteQuiche and lemonade? I can't think of anything better. Yum. And you two, out of the town. YES yes and yes!
ReplyDeleteHappiest birthday to your granddaughter. L'chaim.
I've thought of you each day since the sad news of your mother Jo. Yes .. our lives do go on, and we must still smile when others need our smiles and love when they need our love. This little beauty doesn't understand yet what real loss really means. Only with time will she too have to take on those heart breaks. So today is her day! To be 5 years old with not a care in the world! To be Queen For A Day! Today you celebrate a life that will bring you many more days filled with happiness and love! She will help you through ... Enjoy!! God Bless!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lucky girl to have such a beautiful grandmother and to show her the ropes when indulging in a proper tea!
ReplyDeleteThis brings back such memories for me of when Stacie and I would visit one of our local tea rooms. Always made her feel very special and grown up. Of course, it was always about the baked fudge for dessert!
<3
Life-affirming, Jo. Thank you for the perfect example that life does, indeed, go on.
ReplyDeleteAnd, your music selections convince me that the music we need is there at the moment we need it. With warmest thoughts, Jan.
Jo and CiCi, Tea for two. What a grand affair!! A lovely way to spend a fifth birthday. I hope the two of you had a splendid time together, with quiet, unforgettable moments that you can hold in your heart forever. Thank heavens for little girls, they grow up in a most delightful way.
ReplyDeleteVicki, I did experience love, fun, and healing today. Thanks for sending it my way! ♥
ReplyDeleteThank you, Reya. The quiche and lemondade were sublime. CiCi looked at me as she ate and said, "This day keeps getting better and better."
ReplyDeleteI love being out on the town with that one!
xoxo
Donna, thank you so much for your kind and wise words. She and her brother will, indeed, help me through the process of grieving. And as they do, they will hear lots of stories of their wonderful great grandmother and the love she had for her family.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Linda...um, baked fudge??? I'm going to the wrong tea rooms!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the smile, chica! ♥
Thank you, Jan. I think that music often does come to us at the time we need it. It always has to me, anyway. I wonder what people do who haven't been exposed to lots of music?
ReplyDeleteWith gratitude for the warmth,
xoxo
Linda F, how true! They really are delightful little beings. CiCi and I did have a splendid time. The highlight was the server bringing in a slice of coconut cream cake with a candle in it, and the entire roomful of ladies sang "Happy Birthday" to her...you should have seen her face! ♥
ReplyDeleteGrandchildren are our reminder that life goes beautifully on - they are our buttress against time, our joy, our glimpse at the future. I'm so glad you had this chance to celebrate with your little granddaughter.
ReplyDeleteWonderful thoughts, Pondie. Our butress against time and our glimpse at the future...YES.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for this! ♥