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Sweet Caroline & Carolyn Suite
If you've ever attended a Red Sox game, you know that Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline is one of Fenway Park's anthems. You sing along at the top of your lungs and then, when you get to the "good times never felt so good" part, you scream-echo "so good! so good! so good!" raising an arm each time for emphasis. Good times. I can't do it without a huge grin on my face, intoxicated by the campiness and comaraderie. ("Hands touching hands, touching me, touching you" have to be among the corniest lyrics ever.) This afternoon on the way home from Lauren's flute lesson, Sweet Caroline came on the radio and we had an impromptu mini-Fenway rally session, music loud, windows down, voices up.
Which reminds me.
Let's all raise a "Sweet Caroline" for my mom, Carolyn, whose birthday it is today.
My mom is one of those people with a knack for nurturing and tending relationships; she essentially collects people. {And I'm positive that every one of them feels like a favorite.} Her own children, of course, and extended family members. But also neighbors, friends (of all ages...red hats and young rebels), students (she plays the harp and teaches a full studio of students) and, especially, souls who need an openhearted, accepting person in their lives.
She's a beauty. I grew up hearing "wow, your mom is so pretty" and they were right. {Recently someone in my ward followed that up with the interesting question "So who do you take after?" which doesn't feel nearly as nice. Really, I knew what they meant, but still.}
She's a passionate movie lover and has been known to dress up in red-carpet-worthy finery for annual Oscar award gatherings. She loves a good Pepsi with crushed ice but can make one bottle last, kept in the door of her fridge, for days on end alongside the rewrapped bars of dark chocolate with one square missing. She throws an exceptional party and makes holidays magical. She loves Jon Stewart and compiles eclectic videotaped snippets of hilarious moments on several shows. Also I don't think she would turn down a dinner date with Hugh Laurie.
^Mom, me, and brother Matt
very Audrey Hepburnesque, no?
When I grow up, I want to be her. Maybe with fewer boxes in the storage room, I think (all those magical holiday fixings have to be stored somewhere, though).
In addition to all this, PLUS she generously shared her birthday with her wedding day, meaning she has forever been cheated either out of part of her birthday or part of her anniversary. Happy 40th anniversary you two!
Friday, October 26, 2007
Reader Comments (11)
What a great post of your mom. Yes, she is beautiful but this apple did NOT fall far from the tree. It sounds like you got more then good looks from her but also many of her traits that you admire.
technical question here- how do you get those old photos on your blog? Do you have a scanner? I have tried the picture of a picture and surprisingly it is not so clear. Yours look great.
{Hi Bridget, Yes...it's a scanner & surprisingly easy to do. Our printer has a scanner function so I just put the photo in, push a button, and voila! If you send me your photos, I'll do it for you and send them back and e-mail the scanned results!}
Beautiful post and pictures! Your mom sounds like a great lady. Loved the title...too. This whole post was worth a second read!
Your mom is the very essence of class, sophistication, and beauty. Just like you. What a great tribute.
P.S. Go Sox!
Thanks Annie for that lovely tribute to your Mom. I think you have captured her essence totally. I only wish that more of her bedrock christian virtues had rubbed off on me over these forty years. It must not be contagious or maybe I got a vaccination about the age of accountability. Oh, and she would also probably not turn down a dinner invitation from Clive Owen or George Clooney, and of course we always set an extra place at our table for Cary Grant. Much love to you. Dad
Annie, Yes! That is the Susie I know. Wow! That is so great. I even visited her in Virginia once. After they moved to Connecticut for Berkely's residency I lost contact with her. And you know bridget from when She lived in Boston right? I haven't made any real connections while blogging until now so I'm so excited about this!
Wonderful post Annie. Your mom looks like quite the fashonista! And I second Bridget on the apple/tree bit. You are one of those great people that's brilliant, sophisticated, classy, but with a punch of funk that makes you a treasure--as is sounds your mother was too!
She did have good style!
Just came across your blog and wanted to let you know about a free giveaway I'm hosting - come check it out! Thank you! Have a great weekend!
Thank you, dear, for the lovely tribute. It made me cry. It made me think, "Gee, who is this person and where can I meet her?" No, really. It was beautiful, and so are YOU! I did love those NYC days with you in your red jacket. And how you loved NYC and everyone you saw on the street! Blessed times. As far as the birthday/anniversary composite, I think it is your father who gets cheated. I wake up thinking, "Just who should be making breakfast in bed for the other one?" We have resorted to claiming a few days at the first of November to observe the 40 YEARS (!) of wedded bliss and blisters. As your father said tonight, "There have been brief periods of partly cloudy, but it has been mostly sunny." Amen. I love you, Ma
Nice tribute. ANd she is very pretty.
And want to hear a cute Sweet Caroline story. My brother loves Neil Diamond. He and his wife tried for 5 years (3 failed IVF attempts) to get pregnant. Totally on their own, they got pregnant with a little girl. My brother immediately decided they would name her Caroline. After she was born, they sent us all a short video, of him bringing her home, with "Sweet Caroline" playing in the background. He said, "I've been waiting 5 years to play this for you..." Is that the sweetest thing you've ever heard?
She sounds like a beautiful person. What a nice post. :)