Happy 50th Anniversary Mommy and Daddy!! April 24, 1965- April 24, 2015

Saturday night was the dinner party for my parents.  Early last fall, my dad told my sisters and I that he wanted to go back to New York where they got married while we were there for Lindsey to run the marathon and he wanted to go back to Hampton where they first met and dated and see their old haunts.  While in Virginia he and my mom wanted to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with their families, most of whom still live in the Hampton area...my dad's 5 remaining brothers and sisters, my mom's sister (the other lives in New York) and the majority of my and my sister's 1st cousins.

Initially my dad also wanted to go to Washington, D.C. where they went on their honeymoon, but they were unable to do so.  That's why Tate and I ended up in D.C.

So Lindsey and I along with the help of my aunt organized a lovely dinner for them at the Cypress Grille at Embassy Suites in Hampton.  I sent out formal invitations, and the plans were underway.  I also emailed/mailed letters to many of my parents' friends (after absconding with my mom's address book on the sly) and asked them to send letters and/or cards wishing my parents well if they would like.  I wanted to fill a scrapbook with memories and well wishes from those who would not be celebrating with us;  I also asked them to send along photos if they had any.  It turned out to be just lovely...one of the highlights of their evening.  My cousin who is a semi-professional photographer agreed to photograph the evening, and my other cousin arranged for a gorgeous cake.  My aunt did a fantastic job with the menu and organizing the event since Lindsey and I could do so little from so far away.  We will be forever grateful.

In addition to the family guest list I included two couples who were (still are) my parents' best friends when we lived in Baltimore.  These two couples mean more to my parents than any other friends they've had before and since.  One couple lives in St. Louis and was unable to attend, but sent a lovely letter and some pictures from years past.  The other couple resides in Baltimore and were able to attend.  We kept their appearance a secret from my parents.  Best.Surprise.Ever.

I have never seen my parents so very happy.  The smiles on their faces will stay with me for the rest of my life.  Their joy, happiness and contentment to be home and surrounded by those they love so very much will sustain me long after they're gone.  Absolute joy.

Happy 50th Anniversary Mommy and Daddy!

My parents' best friends surprising them...the definitive high of the wonderful evening...

So much love in this room...

 

I'm including the pictures my cousin, who is a semi-professional photographer, took as a gift to us that night for this blog is more an anthology of my life with Tate in addition to an outlet for me as we travel this journey together.

 





 

 

 

 

Doing the final touches!

My lovely Aunt Jean who did
all the legwork to make this party happen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of my most favorite pictures from the evening...I love them both so much!

 

Uncle Chuck and Cousin Pete

 

 

 
 

 

 

Cousin Valerie sharing pictures of her grandson with Tate!

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

My mom seeing her sister, Aunt Alice!

 

 

 

Aunt Brenda arrives with her son, Lander!

 

Sweet Uncle Cary!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

Give me some wine!!!

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the selfies start!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me and my cousin Cheryl!!  She was the youngest
grandbaby for 14 years until I came along and usurped
her position as the youngest and favorite grandchild!!!

 

 

 

Cheryl led us in a most beautiful blessing of the food.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My mom made the rounds of the room, trying to say hi
and thank you to everyone for coming!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The littlest cousins having a blast!

My sister and my two cousins (who are sisters!)

I love the absolute mafia/gangster look we have going on in this picture!

 

My dad and his 5 remaining siblings.  Sadly, three have gone home..Aunt Kathryn, Uncle Ronnie and Uncle Wade.
They will be forever missed.

 


My mom and her sister, my Aunt Alice.  They have lost two siblings...
my Aunt Carolyn and my Uncle Jimmy.  My Aunt Lynette
was unable to come down from NYC.

 

Cake time!

 

 

 

 

Love this love!

 

 

Getting the littles ready to go home!

My Aunt Janice was just amazed by this carseat
that Tate wore like a vest!

 

 

 

 

This was probably one of the best weekends I've had in a really really long time.  And it's all because I was surrounded by these wonderful people.  Miles and miles separate us, but there is just something about the love of family.  I'm so blessed that both of my parents came from individuals who placed such a strong focus on family and the love of God.  It's so important for me that Tate see this, this love of family and God.  I want him to always no that no matter where he is, what he does, who he becomes that we, his family, will always be there for him no matter the passage of time.  My parents have done that for me, my sisters, my aunts and uncles, cousins and distant cousins.  All of them. 

 

Blessed beyond measure.



Celebrating My Parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary - Day Four - Virginia

Monday morning Christian started his 27 hour journey home.  His trek was quite involved....

Amtrak train from Virginia--->Union Station, Washington, D.C.
Metro from Union Station, DC--->Reagan Airport, DC
Reagan Airport, DC--->LaGuardia Airport, NYC
La Guardia Airport, NYC--->Amsterdam Airport
Amsterdam Airport--->BERLIN!!!

27 hours!  He worked really hard to spend this weekend with my family and me.  It meant a lot of all of us. 

So we dropped him off at the train station at 9am and amidst a lot of tears and hugs said good-bye for now.

Tate and I then headed off to my aunt and uncle's to meet up with my parents and Lindsey for a day in Hampton.  We needed to visit our loved ones who have gone home, and  my dad wanted to stop by his childhood home and my mom's.  We also wanted to hit some 'hot' spots of their days of dating!

We loaded up into the car on that gorgeous Monday and first went to visit my mom's mother.  I love graveyards...I love reading the 'stories' of those laid to rest and remembering not only the ones I've come to visit, but looking at the other tombstones and connecting others to our family.  My grandmother and her family are buried in a lovely, small church cemetery...the same church my mom was baptized in when she was a young girl. The church has been completely re-done, but my mom was able to find the exact spot she was baptized at all those years ago. 

My mommy's mom, my Grandma Lynch

My great aunt who raised my mommy...Aunt Julia.
We were so sad that it seems my Uncle PH's grave
has been moved.

Reflecting and missing those who have gone home.

More family...

Family ties are strong here...

My mommy was baptized right here
in this spot!  :)

From my grandmother's cemetery we made our way to the military cemetery where my dad's parents are buried along with one of his sisters and one of his brothers.  It was a gorgeous, beautifully blue day as we walked along paying our respects.  In the midst of all of our memories, two fighter jets flew over the cemetery.  What a blessing and a beautiful sight.

My daddy's parents' graves...goodness I loved them so much!

My Grandma Cunningham 

My Grandpa Cunningham

My Aunt Katherine

My Uncle Wade died very suddenly almost two years ago.
This was our first trip home that he wasn't there to hang out
with us.  I miss him.  So very much.  His voice, his laugh
his joy.  Just him.

And I know my dad misses his brother
more than he will ever say.

By then everyone's tummies were a tad rumbly, so we found a place to enjoy some lunch.  It's rare we go out to eat here at home together, so it was a really nice time.

From the restaurant, we headed off to see where my dad grew up.  I spent many a summer vacation in this house, and I can still remember the smells, sounds and love in that house!  We'd drive up, circle around to be in front of the house, then Kellie and I would run up the front walk into the house.  Daisy, my grandparents' Shitz-Zu would come racing around the corner, skidding on the hardwood floor, jumping all over our skinned knees and legs for lots of hugs.  My beloved grandmother would come of the yummy smelling kisses for big warm hugs and my grandfather would come out of the living room to pick us up and snuggle.  The house looks much the same, new paint, but otherwise just the same....I would know that house anywhere.

I so wish I could have taken him inside
to show him where I used to sleep
and play when I visited!

Then we headed over to the house where my mom grew up after moving to Virginia when she was 7 to live with her aunt and uncle along with two of her sisters.  We spent many a summer night in that house too visiting my Aunt Julia and Uncle PH.  I can vividly remember my Uncle PH sitting in his rocker in the front room, and my Aunt Julia in the hot kitchen cooking away.  Meals were in the dining room which was so formal.  The 2 back bedrooms were stiflingly hot, but we stayed there many a night with just a fan on the dresser.  Those were the days.

My aunt and uncle's house where my mom lived!

The elementary school my mom attended...right across
the street from their house!

My parents met when they were preteens, and they have many stories of their initial dating.  My favorite is the one they tell of how my mom walked over to her friend Clara's house who lived right around the corner from my mom.  She had told my aunt and uncle that she was going to hang out Clara's for the evening. (you can see where this is going)  In reality they planned to go to the movies with my dad and Clara's boyfriend.  They met the boys at the bus stop just up the road from Clara's house and just a couple blocks up from my aunt and uncle's house.  Unbeknownst to my father, my mother didn't have permission to go.  Imagine his surprise when a black car passes them by, screeches to a halt and burns rubber going in reverse and screeches to another halt in front of them at the bus stop.  My aunt had to simply roll down the car window, and my mother made her way into the back seat of the car.

The scene of the 'crime'!  Right there on Shell Rd!
The bus stop was right there!!  LOL! 

My mom demonstrating how my uncle backed up!

I can't believe my dad asked her out again after that!  :)

My parents and Lindsey headed off to Hampton University to see the high school my mom attended (Phoenix High School is now part of the HU campus) after dropping Tate and me at my aunt and uncle's as we had to return our rental car.  Tate had a few minutes to play with Jalen who comes there after school.  After I returned from the car rental place it was time for dinner, and our time with our family was quickly winding down. 

My cousin, Adrienne came to hang out for a bit and the adults ate dinner after I got Tate in bed and asleep.  We had an early flight out of Richmond, so I needed him to be in bed with a 530am wake up in his near future.  I got to hang out with my aunt for a bit that evening.  An evening that we sadly watched the events unfold in Baltimore in the wake of the death of Freddie Gray. 

Family.  We go years and years without seeing one another due to time, distance, lack of funds and time, but once we're all in the same vicinity it's like we were never apart.  Like Adrienne said, we are thick as thieves.  Which is why I know it was so important for my dad that we spend this milestone in his and my mom's life with their family.  Nothing else really matters...not money, not other people, nothing.  It's all about family.  My grandfather instilled that in him, and he's instilled that in me.  It's one of the reasons I'm sure to make it back to NYC as often as I can, so Tate can spend time with his NYC cousins, and we young people on my dad's side of the family need to make an effort to keep our kids in one another's lives. 

My dad spent the night with Tate and me at my Aunt Brenda and Uncle Melville's, so he could just wake up and take us to the airport which was just over an hour away in Richmond.  We were on the road at 6:10 and at the airport by 7:30.  Lots of hugs and kisses good-bye to Papa and Tate and I were on our way back to the Lone Star State.

And this time I kept up with my keys!  But I lost my ticket telling me where I parked!  Thankfully I had a pretty good idea where I was, so the shuttle driver only had to drive us around for a minute or two.

On our way home!
My parents and Lindsey returned the following day!

It was such a lovely weekend.  One of the best I've had in a long time.  There isn't anything I would change or do over, except have more time with Christian and all of the family.  It's so sad how we don't know what we're missing until we're together again.  It's just amazing to me though how strong our ties are.  And our faith.  How strong our faith is.  Family and God...nothing more is needed.  

Thanks to my parents and their 50 years of marriage I know that to the depth of my soul.

Celebrating My Parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary - Day Three - Virginia

After his 10pm bedtime Saturday night, Tate slept until 7am!!!!  I was so excited.  Though I joined him in bed around 11 I was so very exhausted and didn't sleep straight through the night, so him sleeping 'late' was a godsend.  I then handed over my phone and dozed until 8 while he watched his precious Disney Collector.

We didn't really have any plans for Sunday except to just hang out, the three of us, and to be with our family.  Once Christian was up, my aunt made us a very yummy breakfast.  Christian and my uncle get along just great and just talked and talked and talked.  I love watching how seamlessly Christian is enveloped into my family...he's so easy going and open with them...two qualities that I really love about him.  Tate played with his toys then my cousin brought his son back over to play with Tate!  The boys had an absolute blast.  But first Tate had to do some of his homework, so I helped him with some, then I took him upstairs to my uncle's man cave and let Daddy Christian and Uncle M help him with the rest...then he was able to play with Jalen!

Homework in the man cave!

Lunch with his new, most favorite cousin ever! :)

In the early afternoon I took Christian over to my other aunt and uncle's house where my parents and Lindsey were staying, so my parents could spend some time with Christian!  Even better my cousin Cheryl decided to drive across the water and join us...she even brought her grandchildren and her son with her!!  I love me some Cousin Cheryl!

Meeting his 2nd cousin, twice removed.
I think that's what she is.  She's the daughter
of my 1st cousin's son.
I think they can get married!  lol!

Playing with rocks!  What fun!

After a couple of hours Tate, Christian and I headed back to my aunt and uncle's for some dinner and some playtime for Tate and Jalen who came back with his big sister!

Then it was bath and bedtime for Tate.  Christian gave him his bath and did story time with Tate...Christian was leaving the following morning :( so their time together was short.

Once Tate was down for the night, Christian and I were able to spend some time together, just the two of us.

It's been a long journey for us with lots of ups and downs.  But now I think we have the tools we need to ride the downs better together and we're going to be looking at a lot more ups from here on out.  We have something really special, we both know it.  And our first responsibility is and needs to be Tate, making this wild, crazy, upside down, fun, loving 'family' we've created a safe and strong one for him.

Celebrating My Parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary - Day Two - Hampton, Virginia

Saturday morning we woke up bright and EARLY for our 7am train ride to Newport News.  Amtrak changed the time on us about 2 weeks before our trip...it was originally  scheduled for 7:40am.  Forty minutes makes a lot of difference in the morning!!  But we persevered and made it to Union Station in plenty of time.  We checked our luggage and boarded the train, and we left right on time!

We were slated to arrive at the train station at 11:15am, but to our chagrin about 5 minutes outside of Williamsburg (less than 30 minutes from our destination) we were stopped on the tracks due to a broken down train in front of us!  The first 30 minutes or so, we didn't really notice anything was amiss, and then I started wondering if that was indeed normal as it was 11:00am!  So Christian went on a fact-finding mission and came back with the news that the train had already been stuck for 90 minutes when we rolled up behind it...30 minutes prior!  So those poor people had been sitting on there for 2 hours already.  Our conductor relayed that it would be anywhere from 20 minutes to 5 hours before it would be fixed.

20 minutes to 5 hours!  

What fun!

We had my parents' anniversary party in 6 hours!!

Luckily we started moving about 45 minutes later and we arrived into Newport News at 12:30.  My dad picked us up!  He took us to get our rental car.  And I had a Seinfeld experience...

Enterprise had my reservation...they just couldn't HOLD my reservation.  I had reserved a full size and all they had was an intermediate.  Which they offered with a 5% discount.  I have so many thoughts on this, but suffice it to say, I won't be using them again.  The smaller car was fine for our needs, but what if it hadn't been?  But I didn't complain...we just moved on.

My dad motored on to my aunt and uncle's house with Tate while Christian and I made a grocery store run!  Once we got to my aunt's we had some lunch and rested up for the evening's festivities!!!  Even better my cousin brought his 6 year old son over to play with Tate.  It's been 4 years since Tate and Jalen have seen each other!  These two had an absolute blast together!

Christian and I convinced Tate to take a nap with Christian.  The boys laid down, and as I was walking downstairs I heard giggling and laughing from both Tate and Christian!!  I stalked into that bedroom and told them to pipe down and go to sleep.  Immediately!

And they did :)

I woke them up a little over an hour later, and Christian got Tate bathed and ready for the par-tay!!

Can I just say it was soooooo nice to have some help with Tate?  Sooooo nice!  Even though I had to tell Christian exactly what to do to get him started it was nice to be able to go downstairs and get stuff together to take, get myself dressed while the boys dressed and have a moment to myself!  It was heavenly!

All that was left was the celebration!