This past week was a by week. You know, in sports when the team doesn’t have a game that week. It’s a “by” week. Well, I had no cancer stuff going on week. I had something to do much better than that. I gave Dennis a birthday party celebrating his eight decades on this earth. Yes! Eighty years old needs celebrating.
Originally the plan was to have the party at the community center in our neighborhood. The day I got my official diagnosis; I wasn’t sure if I could throw a party for 80 to 100 people. I had no idea how I would handle chemotherapy. I thought it was safer to downsize the party to family and one of two really close friends. Then my sweet cousins who live in Arizona suggested I ask everyone to bring something to help. Since it was 99.9% family members, I went with their suggestion. Everyone was so kind and generous and brought some food to go along with the barbecued pulled pork sandwiches and chicken salad sandwiches I provided.
On Thursday before the party three of my four sons and one daughter-in-law arrived from St. Louis, Missouri.
We spent all day Friday together—went to lunch at the Olive Mill. For dinner, my friend and surrogate relative, Kim, had us over for dinner and birthday cake. That was on Dennis’s actual birthday. Also arriving around dinnertime was Dennis’s brother and sister-in-law, Dave and Julie. Because we greatly downsized when moving here, Kim kindly offered to be backup bed and breakfast for some of the family who came in town. Shout out to Kim! She gets 5-star reviews!
Saturday was the big celebration. At noon the doorbell rang. Dennis answered it, and in walked my nephew, Jeff. No surprise there. He lives nearby and was invited to the party. What was a surprise, and I mean a HUGE surprise is that his mom, my sister, Marilyn was standing in my kitchen. I think I lost it! I don’t remember. I was just shocked. Marilyn is my older sister, and she lives in West Virginia in the little tip of the state that borders Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. She hates flying, yet she got on a plane in D.C. with one of her adult granddaughters, and flew to Arizona to surprise me, and to celebrate Dennis’s birthday.
We had a lot of food, of course birthday cake, and a game of “Dennis Walker Trivia.” It was fun to play, and people learned little things about Dennis that most people didn’t know, including his brother, who may have just not remembered. Fortunately, the game was multiple choice so people could still get correct answers or guesses. I saved the PowerPoint game, and I made into a movie format. It will be posted at the end of this blog. You will also be surprised by the answers. We did not have to use the tie breaker questions, and they are also on this video. The winner of the game received a framed photo of Dennis. Here is the photo they received.
The party was a huge success. Many cousins have not seen each other in years. The noise level was deafening with laughter. It was such a sweet day to celebrate this wonderful man who has never left my side for almost 13 years. I couldn’t ask for a kinder person, not only to me but to everyone, to be my partner in life.
Sunday morning, I drove my children to the airport. It was hard saying goodbye to them. I wanted to hold onto all of them for just a bit longer, but real life calls for us to be back in place on Monday. Dennis stayed with Dave and Julie. They went to the Phoenix Botanical Gardens, which I knew would be too much for me the day after such a big event. On my way home from the airport, I picked up Marilyn and Arianna, her granddaughter and my great niece, and brought them to our home. We hung out for a while and then Marilyn’s family showed up. Not only her son, but her brother-in-law, sister-in-law, niece and her husband and adult son arrived. We went to dinner at a local restaurant on the patio, and Dennis and crew met up with us as they returned from the botanical gardens.
I didn’t realize what tired meant until the weekend was over, but I wouldn’t have traded it for anything. It was such a joy to be with so many people we love, and to celebrate Dennis’s 80 years. I am blessed.
Here it is! Dennis Walker Trivia!
Andrea Unsinkable 