Grandma's Birthday

I have officially escaped from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and what's more, arrived at my first stop along the way - Indiana for my Grandma's 90th birthday party.

The trip so far has been fairly exciting.  I finally made it out of Winston late Wednesday afternoon.  I created roadkill in southern Ohio (that raccoon just could not decide which way he/she was heading).  I spent the night in Athens, Ohio, and on Thursday continued onward.  I got a speeding ticket somewhere on a flat stretch of 33.  I was going 78 where it had just changed from 65 to 60, so that would make it 18 miles over.  Oops.  Later that day I got lost in Fort Wayne.  Needless to say there have been many firsts so far.  This will certainly be an interesting journey.

Friday was Grandma's birthday celebration.  Most of the family gathered here for the occasion and the resulting festivities have been lovely.  We ate lunch together in the dining room of the Greencroft Retirement Center where my Grandma resides.  Highlights include controversies over the consistency and taste quality of diet vs. non-diet applesauce jello.  

We then went to Maplecrest Golf Course and dined on a delicious dinner.  The mashed potatoes were excellent.  The company was exquisite.  Uncle John gave Grandma a beautiful jewelry box which he made out of blood wood.  After dinner, we all returned to Greencroft, where we were joined by even more family and many of Grandma's friends.  We talked and ate cake and drank coffee and punch (which despite earlier promises was not spiked).  It was a terribly lovely evening, and a fitting celebration for a woman who is simply awesome.