Birthday Girl

Pam recently celebrated a “decade” birthday. At our age, birthdays have become non-events for the most part; they come and go without fanfare. This time things would be a little different.

Pam has a long-time friend, Mary Hayes, who now lives in Florida. The friendship goes back to kindergarten and was cemented when Pam and Mary spent months together touring Europe and England when they were in their late teens. (Doesn’t seem so long ago!)

Mary had called me a few weeks ago to arrange a surprise visit as a birthday present for Pam. We worked out the details. On the big day, I picked Mary up at the local air port and brought her home. Pam, who had taken some time off work as a “stay-cation’ and was involved in a household painting project when Mary arrived, was truly surprised.

Mary was here for about 2 1/2 days, having arrived on Thursday and departing Sunday morning. Pam and Mary had ample opportunity to talk and just enjoy being together for a few days.

We did take a trip over Grand Mesa to show Mary some of the local terrain (and to reintroduce this former Wisconsin girl to snow).  On the way down from Grand Mesa, we drove by “for sale” houses just to get an idea of  the price of Colorado real estate in the Cedaredge area. We ended the trip with a visit to Augusta’s Tea Room  in Grand Junction. This was Mary’s idea and it was a pleasant way to spend some time and enjoy a few seasonal food items such as pumpkin cupcakes and apple scones.

Pam and Mary spent Saturday night at a Grand Junction hotel; Pam would drop Mary off at the airport Sunday morning. (Mary’s early flight departed at 7:30 AM.) The two girlfriends went out to dinner at an Irish pub. Pam reports the food was good , she tried a Harp beer, and the atmosphere was excellent with dinner served at the bar.

I believe both ladies enjoyed the visit and time spent together. Pam will remember this birthday for a long time to come.

Here are a few photos taken during Mary’s visit:

Mary and Pam share couch time with London, Jo, and Bru

Pam and Mary on the Grand Mesa Visitor Center building’s deck

Posing to show the snow on Grand Mesa

Mary at the Grand Mesa Visitor Center

Tea time at Augusta’s Tea Room in Grand Junction

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Two Cents Worth:

Thanks to Mary and Jer for making this birthday one to remember.  I was truly surprised and touched.  Hopefully Mary’s Florida blood was able to withstand the Colorado cold temps (especially on Grand Mesa @ 10,000+ feet) without too much lasting damage. Onward into the upcoming decade…

Happy trails.