Dad's 65th

Rolling onto the pickleball court, I saw everyone who meant something to my dad. It was his 65th birthday party. Everyone from his high school days to people who shared his love of the game were there. The large, open space was filled with nets in the air and white squares on the floor. Players were laughing and eating on the sidelines.

“Hi, Hannah! How are you?” Jane, a friend of my parents, exclaimed. Her ponytail bounced as she walked toward me.

“Great, how are you?”

“I’m good…”

“No, I have a better question. What’s the most exciting thing that’s happened in 2025 so far?”

That’s such a better question! I told Jane about how Sharon Draper had followed me on Instagram. She wrote Out of My Mind, a book about a fourth grader who has Cerebral Palsy. I think it’s amazing that she followed me. Subsequently, I searched for Draper’s agent, whom I successfully found after a 30-minute investigation. I met her, and she was a fountain of wisdom.

“That’s impressive,” Jane responded.

“Hey, Jane, get out on the court!” Mom yelled happily.

“I’m being summoned.”

I rolled over and watched. Mom had been friends with these women for 40 years or more. Through cancer diagnoses, parents passing away, the ups and downs of motherhood, and nights like tonight, their friendship endured. I’m in awe. The men of the group could say the same thing. They are truly a remarkable group of people.

After the game, Mom got everyone to sing to Dad. It was fun to hear all the voices that made up my parents’ lives. Rolling through the myriad of people, I heard a full-grown man call my name.

Who is that?

“Jake?”

“Yeah, and this is my girlfriend.”

The last time I saw you was high school graduation, and now you’re an adult.

“Hi.”

The core memory of David, my little brother and his friends I have is all of them in Little League and me being bored to death and insisting on having my iPod in. Mom always understood and helped me with my headphones. I was fourteen and appreciated listening to NSYNC during these long games.

“Nice to see you, Hannah,” David said as he came over and gave me a sweaty hug. He continued, “Catching up with Jake?”

“Yeah,” I replied, before he and his friends jogged off to play.

By that time, I had talked to everyone and was ready to go.

“Hey, Mom. I’m going to go.”

Leaning in for a hug, she said, “It’s been fun. Thanks for coming.”

“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

I hope you enjoyed reading about Dad's birthday celebration. It was a beautiful reminder of how the people in our lives shape us—and how some bonds only grow stronger with time. Thank you for being part of our lives!

Happy New Year!

Dear Readers, 

Once again, thank you for reading my blog. I started this the summer before my first year of college and I'm always in awe of what it has become. It has become a staple in my life. I've had the blessing of keeping in touch with so many of you. I know I would not be connected with some of you if you didn't read the blog. Connection and love are what every human craves, and I have an abundance of it. I could not ask for more. 

2025 will be full of adventures. Can't wait to write about them and thoroughly entertain you! 

Love,  

Hannah!

 

 

Pink Christmas Trees and Triple A

            In a dimly lit spacious room where the Christmas tree takes center stage at two stories high. The restaurant is surrounded by walnut wood. It dates back over 100 years. On this particular night, I was meeting my Aunty Dorn for dinner. With the lights of the city glistening, it’s magical and just perfect for Christmas.

            “Should we finish up and walk around the store?” my aunt offered. I should mention that my Aunty Dorn is chosen family. My dad has been friends with her since college and she and my Aunt Nancy, whose also chosen family, threw the party my parents met at. On occasion, they will take credit for me being conceived. Gotta love family. But seriously, if they didn’t throw that particular party, my parents could still be strangers instead of having a 30 plus year marriage. Wow!

            “Sure. Sounds great!” I said to my aunt. 

            Walking around the store, we saw the pinkest Christmas tree. I rolled to it wanting to take the

whole tree home with me.

            “Very you.” Aunty Dorn stated. She continued, “Do you want me to buy you an ornament?”

            “I’m good. Thanks though.”

            My aunt has never hesitated to spoil me. Just then, my phone alerted me to a text message from my caregiver. My van apparently wasn’t turning on. I remained calm and thought about all the gizmos and gadgets in my car. Figuring that it was something like that, I thought we could quickly fix it and get home. It was time to go home anyway. Boy, I was wrong!

            When we got to the van, I learned the van simply wasn’t turning on. That’s a problem that completely goes over my head. My aunt’s significant other, Fabio (yes, like the cover of a romance novel) came to help. He’s a sweet gentleman.

            After tinkering under the hood, he told us the battery was dead. Completely dead. It’s the coldest night of the year and I’m stranded. Granted, with people who I love so it wasn’t that bad.

            “Aunty Dorn, would you please call my dad and see if he has some ideas?” I asked.

            “Sure.”

            It was so nice to be with family and have them shoulder this burden with me.

            Alas, my dad tried to help but to no avail. We called Triple A then.

As we waited, homeless person after homeless person walked by trying to find a place to rest their weary bones for the night. They all got shooed away by other people. Please just let these poor people be. Like I said, it wasn’t that bad.

            The lights of Triple A finally appeared. The guy jumped out of his truck, popped my hood, agreed with Fabio that it was the battery, and proceeded to jump my battery. I was extraordinarily relieved.

            “Do not turn the car off until you get home.” Fabio said to my caregiver.

            “Absolutely,” she replied.

            I expressed my gratitude to my aunt and Fabio.

            Needless to say, I got Triple A for myself.