On Saturday, February 8th, 2025, Mary's Ottawa area friends held a EVERYONE LOVES MARY 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. There was no way I was missing that. Best part was that it was a surprise party. Naomi, Axel and Nadie organized a dinner and pottery party at one of the local studios where Mary works.
Here are some photos of Hebe and I after our surprise arrival. It's hard to surprise Mary, but I think we did. She might have sprung a leak in her eyes, briefly.
As each person arrived at the studio, they got a similar greeting to the one we had when we arrived. "I can't believe you are here. What a surprise. It's so great to see you." Someone finally noted, "I thought I was Mary's best friend", to a full room of Mary's best friends.
Here are a few photos of all the EVERYONE LOVES MARY best friends.
Of course there was also some "feting" that went on. I didn't get photos of everyone who gave a roast/toast. But here are a few images.
I learned a lot of amazing things about Mary from her friends. Things I already knew about her character, but in story form. Stories of how Mary's empathy, kindness, perceptiveness, openness, friendliness and joy had touched and changed them. Wow. EVERYONE REALLY DOES LOVE MARY, with good reason.
Here was my addition to the fete. 5 Haikus for Mary on her 50th Birthday.
Feel free to leave your own Haiku to Mary in the comments.
Welcome to the antique club Mary. 50th is fabulous.
Love Catherine
You and Hebe were the biggest surprise, and I definitely sprang a leak in my eyes when you came through that door and I got my arms around you.... or you could say my eyes started sweating. Indeed my face was sore the next day from all the smiling.
ReplyDeleteStands by my shoulder
ReplyDeleteLooking the way I look
With nose pressed on shirt
You got the assignment. Well done
DeleteWarming hearts with cheeks
ReplyDeleteBunched in Rose colored croissants
And knowing curled smile
Oh yes!!!!!
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DeleteWhen I read your haiku silently, I thought, "hey, I want some rose colour croissants." When Mary read your haiku out loud to me, I could see those rosy, croissant-shaped cheeks and my heart melted into a puddle of butter.
DeleteWhy does she love you
ReplyDeleteAnd you and you and you and
Me. And me. And me....
Well done.
DeleteYour haiku makes me want to find a daisy and chant your haiku like the "loves me, loves me not" rhyme. So sweet.
DeleteRichard, I'm putting your haiku's into my "party book" along with Cathy's. I'm so spoiled.
ReplyDelete"Sic her, Mary, sic!"
ReplyDeletePaws up, wild-eyed, pant, snarl, pouce.
Defenseless in awe.
lol
DeleteShe's sassy sixteen.
ReplyDeletePlayful eyes, trump up her sleeve?
"What fruit would you be?"
Photographer, chef,
ReplyDeletewriter, leader, activist,
bold, brave, and brilliant.
Healer, nurturer,
ReplyDeletepoet, potter, manager,
mother, sister, friend.
With agility,
ReplyDeletecricket-like she leaps into
her fifties.
Catherine, what a fun post to read. What an adventure. I jad not thought about those jeans placemats in a looong time. Were there matching plaid napkins that were folder into the pockets and could also hold silverware?
ReplyDelete