Friday is my Gram's birthday. Or, rather, it would've been. She passed away in January.

It's weird. Proflowers.com keeps sending me reminders of her birthday that I can't figure out how to cancel. And because I gave my character Lucy Doyle the same birthday, LiveJournal keeps reminding me that biscuitgrrrl has a birthday coming up as well.

In other news, the time has come for my semi-annual obsession with the soundtrack to LES MIZ. So far, I haven't gotten past Fantine's death. No matter how many times I listen to "Come to Me," the part where Fantine sings, "Look, Monsieur, where all the children play!" I just lose it. Seriously. I lose it. And tonight, the song is reminding me of my Gram, though I'm not sure why. The only connection is death, really.

On a brighter note: I went to an absolutely gorgeous wedding reception Saturday evening at the Patio at Archmere Academy. Katie et Pierre had actually been married two weeks earlier in France, but after a romantic honeymoon in Italy got duded up a second time for us Stateside folk. Despite the sweltering heat (it was like 96 with a heat index of over 100), and how much we were all sweating, we had a fabulous time. I mean, there was bacon wrapped shrimp; how could you not have a fabulous time with bacon wrapped shrimp? (The food - my god, the food! - I cannot even do it justice.) It was the first formal event I attended with Joe, and it was really fun to get all dolled up. We tried to slow dance (I say "tried" because in the end, I couldn't wear the three-inch heels I purchased, and without them, Joe's 14-inch height difference placed his hands closer to my bosom than my waist, and for me to have my hand on his shoulder, I had to fully extend it - the curse of being short!) - anyway, it was also our first dance, so even though it was slightly awkward due to vertical challenges, it was also tres romantique.

Lastly: I've been awash in nostalgia lately. At the wedding, for example: I've known Katie's family since I was 16 and met her cousin Jen during summer college. Jen and I later roommed together at UD; Jeannie, Jen's aunt and Katie's mom, refers to me as "Jenny's college friend." We all scrapbook together and have for years, but still. Catherine, Jen's younger sister, was Katie's maid of honor, and during her tear-filled speech all I could think was how tiny Catherine was when I first met her. Mary and Monica were junior bridesmaids; I remember when they were born.

Then there's the rekindling of my friendship with Wendy, which started earlier this summer. It just brought up a lot of stories - filling Joe in on the me I was at 16, 17, 18. And earlier this month we had dinner with my friend Eb, who was also one of my best friends in high school. With him it's all "remember this?" and "remember that?" So, yeah. Lots of rememories.

I go back to teaching at UD on Wednesday. Can someone please tell me where the summer went? I feel like it was the beginning of June two days ago.

This post has been all over the map. However, I am now listening to "A Heart Full of Love," which is progress indeed.




(I really miss my Gram.)