Half century of milestones and blessings
On this date in the bicentennial year of 1976, I was giving birth at the University of Oregon Medical Center. My star-spangled firecracker of a daughter arrived uneventfully but every day since has been an adventure.
Main Street readers know her as my flight attendant youngest daughter, the source of many of my travel adventures, both domestic and international, for the past 26 years. Alyssa and Melani know her as their amusing and sometimes annoying little sister.
Today, my bicentennial baby girl turns 50. What? How? Where do the years go? While I try to wrap my head around being the mother of three daughters all in their 50s, Sarah Elizabeth is waking up in Edinburgh, Scotland, on another adventure.
She was just 10 days old when she flew on a plane for the first time and apparently enjoyed it enough to make flying a career.
I’m waking up in her beautiful Arizona condo, charged with caring for my granddogs and enjoying the still-summer weather at the pool … while counting my many blessings of motherhood and years.
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It’s 86 days until Christmas and the U.S. Postal Service just announced a holiday shipping rate increase to take effect Oct. 4. Among other shipping services, it will apply to Priority Mail, USPS Ground and Parcel Select. So, if you’re planning to ship gifts via the post office, you might consider mailing on or before Oct. 3.
For the majority of people, myself included, stifle your laughter. As if any Christmas presents are already in hand or even purchased until December!
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On the last day of September, our daughter Sarah Polk (50!) shares the date with Tia Tarpley (60!), Steve Griffitts, Chickie Albright, Debra Raymer, Don Schmitt, Jeff Baltzell, Wilma Mort, Dan Grimmett, Valerie Mesenbrink, Brett Hollenbeck, Ann Siebert and Donna Cooper. First day of October birthdays tomorrow to Casey Irgens, Jill Gardner and Kathi Southland. On Friday, Wendy Medlock, Jack Sjostrom, Dana Kinsey, Rebecca Armstrong, Millie Eylar, Linda Harris, Renee` Mullan, Karla Derton and David Tabakman celebrate. On Saturday, Andy Stidham aka Bill Bosley, Dave Bobbitt, Dave Priano, Madison Morrow, Darcy Johnson, Shylo Deubner and Meilee Anderson mark their birthdays. On Sunday, Mary Wolfinger, Jada Olson, Michael Hillman, Barbara Lovett, Teri Grubbs, Ami Manning, Mike Bryan, Tommy Lynn and Nicole Sobelman blow out the candles. Jan Lindquist, Pat Riley, Amber Butler, Margie Basaraba, Jonalyn Clayton, Debbie McEnespy, David Kamka, Joe Eatherton, Steve Staaben and Tim Turrell dance a birthday polka Monday. On Oct. 6, the ageless Ellen Travolta, Gary Marian, Brooke Miller, Rochelle Seher, Katrina Slater, Kyle Messier, Kate Bennett and Ricky Blaski enjoy a slice of birthday cake.
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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and a former publisher/editor with the Hagadone Newspaper division. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press. Kerri can be reached on Facebook or via email at [email protected].
Sarah and Kerri three days ago in Phoenix for an early 50th birthday celebration before Sarah flew to Scotland.