Celebrating 89 years young!

I was honored to spend time with Nana during her birthday celebrations.  Nana is not a fan of big parties.  I threw her a big party on her 75th birthday and she was not thrilled. I learned from my mistake and try now to make her birthdays about things that she loves, not what I think she should want. 

Speaking of that, several years ago I got her a beautiful decorated white cake.  After I took her picture with that cake, she totally ignored it.  Now I've learned that she likes the cupcakes I buy here in Virginia at our Martin's grocery store.  They are white cake with creamy white frosting.  Sounds similar to the white cake, right?  But, she likes the cupcakes and didn't like the cake.  So for celebrating her birthday, cupcakes it is. 

 

 

Nana's menu is very limited but she enjoys the fish sandwich at The Fence so that is where I chose to take her for her birthday dinner.  Although they have rows of picnic tables lining the view of the Susquehanna River, Nana is not an outside kind of gal.  We went on Friday September 14th, the day before her birthday.  It was so much fun to watch Nana enjoy her fish sandwich - tartar sauce on the side - with her coffee with lots of cream.  The Fence closes in October so that was our last time there this season.  I don't know if it was the birthday or the fact that it was our last fish there till spring, but Nana and I both agreed that the fish tasted better than it had all summer.  The sweet girl who waited on us was kind enough to take our picture.

 

 

 

I told Nana that she gets to celebrate longer as she gets older, so on Saturday, September 15th, when she turned 89 years old, we went to her favorite place - Mays Restaurant.  Sharon was able to join us so that make the breakfast extra special for Nana and I.  It was a crowded morning at Mays and there were lots of people in line waiting for tables.  I got Nana a chair to sit while we waited, but one of the kind waitresses cleared a recently vacated table and moved Nana to the table - no more waiting!  That was a nice birthday gift.  Then she enjoyed her small pancake - specially made by Steve, the cook - her piping hot pot of coffe with lots of creams, and multiple packets of Smuckers Strawberry Jelly, her favorite.  She was greeted with birthday wishes by all the staff and other diners, even a lady behind us who had never met Nana before.

 

In addition, Nana received lots of gifts and visits and phone calls from family and friends with birthday wishes.  She had a wonderful birthday.  I'm already thinking about a plan for her 90th birthday next year.....