lets keep them coming

Ellen sent me these yesterday....look at those pretty girls!

These photos were taken at a birthday party that my daughter Eva (Carol has always called Eva her understudy) organized as a surprise for my 50th birthday (May-2005), the greatest surprise of my life.....It literally bowled me over. I didn't have one inkling.....

My family and friends managed to converge, without me suspecting one little bit, on Key West for an incredible few days that I will never forget. This photo is of Ellen and Carol and was taken at Alice's Restaurant, one of our favorites places to eat in Key West.


Carol, trying to keep me organized as I opened gifts and cards....

Our Carol.......One of the amazing things that I learned about her is that she managed to keep up with SO MANY people and yet didn't make a fuss or production of it. Who knew she was so involved with so many of us? It was so important to her to be a part of the celebrations and sorrows of all of those that she loved.
She made each and every one of us feel like the center attraction of her life. I should re-phrase that because the way I wrote it makes it sounds disingenuous. We, as her family and friends WERE the center attraction of her life and she managed to be a part of all of our lives beautifully, seamlessly. What a woman, what a force of life.

My darling Aunt June, Carol and Lois' mother, a force of nature in herself, with Bitsy, one of our beloved family pets......
more later, love you all- leslie