love, and butterflies, in the mail!

It's been a while since I sent cards out.

My thanks to Habitat For Humanity for giving me a solid nudge in that direction!

This quintet of greeting cards was sent by them, to me, in thanks for my "steadfast support as a Habitat HopeBuilder".

"When you send a card to someone," they wrote, "remember how your continued kindness helps families... and how your commitment is helping transform futures."

How very kind of them!

There were two birthday cards, so they'll go to Michael and to my stepmom.

The sympathy card is going to the Prestons, as he recently lost his sister.

As for the get-well wishes, off to Gloria they go!

Now, what more to do to while the address book is out?
Well, there was a quartet of blank cards with Monarch butterflies on the sunroom table...

and, look! there's three sets of those same cards in the dining room...

and, there! another set, all with their very own butterfly-bedecked envelopes!

Off they will now flit, to niece Aubree, great-niece Caitlyn, great-niece Ally, and great-nephew Kobe, all with an extra Monarch inside to decorate a shelf or share with a friend!

Off they will now flit, to great-nieces Leila, Alyssa, Miyah, and Chloe, as well as great-nephew C J, my stepmom Bonnie, and my two nephews in Alabama, Merritt and Conner, with all also receiving stamped and self-addressed postcards to send to me!

The message to each:

"Just fluttering by...

to tell you hi...

as the Monarchs head to Mexico

for the winter! "

I do hope they will enjoy the surprises as much as I have enjoyed creating them!

Good thing I bought those two books of stamps on Tuesday!

What a wonderful series of steps that led me here!

i thank You, God!

Now, it's almost time for my two hours of "Monk" - hooray!

The first one features Garry Marshall as a hose salesman - hahaha!

Later, y'all!

gift from blue-sky penny

Tina!,

Wishing you a year of fearless adventures with a plethora of new friends you've not met yet!

I love you!

Happy Birthday!
From, Penny

That was posted on the video card page, to which she had sent me an email.

She had also posted this on my fb page:

 

Penny Walker Bos to Faustina Smith
May 29
Sweet Tina.  I know your victimization this week was awful but it's your birthday! 

Turn on your perpetual beautiful, vivacious, infectious love of life and enjoy the celebration of all things YOU!
Here's a jib jab card to make you smile!
Check out '"Fearless" by Goo Goo Dolls - Birthday' on JibJab.com

Faustina Smith
Thank you, dear. 

I find myself second-guessing myself, doubting my decision-making, waiting for a knock on my door by the police. 

Plus, it's this day I've been dreading when I turn the age Mama was when she died. 

Damn. 

So glad when this month is done.

Penny Walker Bos
I'm sorry this moment in time is so heavy with anxiousness and sad memories related to your
wonderful mother's passing. 

As a victim of a crime, your feelings are normal and expected...
exactly why I sent this, to remind you that you are fearless.

Linda L. Walker
Happy birthday Tina. 

I took your mother to the hospital for your birth. I called the base to let your dad know and he had gone skating.They put a note on his bed. He managed to get leave and came quickly. 

I love you dearly.

Faustina Smith
Much love to you both! 

I had deliberately wanted this bday to pass without much fanfare, as I became the last age Mama attained. 

Next year, BIG blowout, I promise, for 64!
Smitty had a low country boil today and Tony and Laura were there, so that was wonderful.
Christina and Chris had a cookout yesterday and Michael was there with his girls, too, so that was wonderful. 

I had hidden my birthday on fb, so that helped me keep it where I wanted it: quiet, subdued, with family being the only ones to mark the day. 

May is almost over and I am feeling more blessed and loved than ever with this low-key start of year 64. 

I am so blessed.

exactly what i wanted for 64-1

I wanted this day to pass fairly uneventfully... and it did.

i thank You, God.

I awakened in my peaceful aquarium, bathed in its soft light.

My thanks to my brother Smitty for that gift.

My breakfast was a leftover chicken sandwich - with mayo! - from last night.

I combined that with the cup of diced peaches from a final, untouched, breakfast tray earlier this month.

My thanks to my brother Ronnie for that gift.

I had one visitor, sans rest of his family, who came and talked with me for a while.

It was almost like having Grandpa right there in my living room!

Honestly, that's not the first time I've seen the resemblance.

My thanks to my brother Tony for that gift.

I finally watched CFTE's vimeo of "Hedda Gabler".

As I told Smitty when he texted, it's "about a conniving woman who sets someone up for death and ends up caught in that web. Very nice costuming."

That's her on the left, wed to one of the men and former lovers with all else there.

 

Mary had texted greetings and love to me this morning - my thanks to her.

Rhonda had texted greetings and love to me this morning - my thanks to her.

Christina called with love, trying hard to not say "happy birthday" - wmla.

Jeff called with greetings and love from Michigan - my thanks to him.

Paul and Cathy sent greetings and love in the mail from CA - my thanks to them.

Noah gave me greetings and love in a card - my thanks to him.

Tony gave me greetings and love in a card - my thanks to him.

He and Laura gave me love and a grocery gift card - my thanks to them.

Amy sent greetings and love in the mail, as a handmade card with fringed grass skirt, from Michigan - my thanks to her.

Carolyn has just called, inviting me out for the last screening of "Cruella" and I'm going -

my thanks to her and my AMC A*List.

It won't be on the Big D screen, but that's perfect for this day...

this day I have dreaded for twenty years...

this day that is drawing to a close.

i thank You, God.

stamped and self-addressed

The top one, of Isle of Hope on the east side, is for Alyssa.

The bottom one, of White Bluff Road on the west side, is for her sister Leila.

Trust me, their Daddy will get my little inside joke on sunrise and sunset!

The middle one, of the Pirate's House restaurant, will go to Hinesville for C J.

These two are off to Hinesville, too, and were purchased in Italy in 2012!

The one for the bridge in Florence, with its lines straight out of a child's book, is for Miss Chlo.

The lower one, of my favorite place to tromp around in Rome - that would be the Forum, with my name on an ancient temple! - is for Littlest Girl.

I think their Mama will appreciate the link to my favorite European country.

Victory Drive, upper left, is headed to Kobe, as he lives out that way.

Bonaventure Cemetery, lower left, is for Caitlyn, as her mom goes there fairly often.

As for Ally, up near Statesboro, I think she'll appreciate the one of St. John's Cathedral

These three are destined for Alabama!

The upper left, with the statue of James Oglethorpe, is for nephew Conner, while the bottom one, featuring Casimir Pulaski, goes to his big brother, Merritt.

The fancy Gingerbread House, with its Southern porches on the top and bottom floors, is for my niece, Aubree.

All told, I spent at least three hours joyously putting together these "love in the mail" packages for the little ones in my life.

Hey, the pandemic is still on, so this is the closest I can get to giving most of them hugs... so, of course I did it!

These unicorn valentines went mostly to the littler ones and are stickers, two to keep and two to share, if they so choose.

The "Dad joke" valentines all went to older kids, for reading fun... and scratch-off practice for lottery cards!

Again, they have two that I've marked for them, but they also get two to give to friends.

Sharing is more fun, isn't it?

Maybe they'll even write to let me know who they shared with!

Such fun!

hey sailor, hey sailor, HEY!

Today has been spent in this 1960's go-go girl outfit!
Well, at least so far.
I'm thinking about spinning around the purple Planet
after I'm done "Quantum Leap"-ing...
we'll see!
That will require me to put on real clothes, though, so...
I just may decide to stay in this nightgown.
(smile!)
It's snug enough that I don't have to bother with a bra,
but super-comfortable and soft and - dare I say - sexy!
Hence to call out to the boys who ever wore Crackerjacks
from a girl who belonged to Uncle Sam's Canoe Club!
(smile!)
Seriously, though, the only reason this was not a "Nudist Camp"
day was because I had love to send out in the mail -
so clothes were needed before meeting the mailman with
outgoing messages to be held in hands.
Love and Mother Pat's Easter Soup recipe - in her own writing -
to cuz'n Michelle, her one-and-only niece, in Virginia.
Love and thanks to Christina for mothering me, and bringing her mother to help.
Love and easy dinner recipes (including Chop Chop) to Dood and Laura and her youngest son, with them for the summer.
Love and a birthday poem to my sis-in-law Mary: "Wishing you happier times galore,
and all you want... plus more!", a la Dr. Seuss.
Love, love, love, love...
all we need is love.
The Beatles were right!
Now, lime to go a-leaping, so a-leapin' I shall go!
(smile!)