Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Happy Birthday Mary


50_mary hosmer c. 1992
Originally uploaded by Red Peonies
Today would have been Mary's 65th birthday. I've been thinking about her a lot lately, maybe because there are so many things happening that she would have enjoyed. How much would she have loved the new generation of Culkin munchkins? And dancing in a ski coat at Eric's wedding? She would have been excited to talk to Kym about her dissertation, and Janelle and Jane about college, and me about my book (or so I like to think). And Obama! And Michelle Obama! They would have made her very happy. I always wish she had met Neilson--they would have spent hours talking about the evils of Republicans. And I'm sure she would have been satisfied that I fell in with a libra. I know it always pleased her that she shared a birthday with Carrie Fisher, so she would have gotten a kick out of Fisher's recent renaissance.

ETA: On the subway, I thought of a few more things Mary would have been enjoying these days. Celebrating the fact that there is a female lawyer in the family. Philosophizing with Marc. Keith Olberman and, even more, Rachel Maddow.

If Mary were around, I'm sure we would all be heading to Boulder for a party in her great house. I always think of the parties there when I hear Bruce Springsteen sing "Mary's Place." I don't have any real belief in an afterlife, but I still like to think of Mary, Florence, Hosmer and Elvis (the cat) sitting around together, having a cocktail and some cheese, crackers, and pepperoni. With occasional visits from Betty Connolly.

3 comments:

jody said...

Thanks Kate.

Trish said...

Very, very nice, Kate. Thanks for posting this. This song has always reminded me of Mary, and I agree that she would have loved to spend time with all her grown-up nieces and nephews, and with the little munchkin generation too.

Kate C. said...

And Mad Men. I knew I was forgetting something else that had reminded me of Mary recently.