Wednesday, September 12, 2012

A Sing Along Life


Deb: Well, I cannot begin to tell you how glorious my parents 65th anniversary party was! But I will try.

After a lovely long hot summer here in Toronto, the weather predicted rain—thunderstorms and the like. True to the weather report, the heavens opened the night before with thunder and lightning and we woke up to pouring rain. So we made our peace with it and decided that it was going to be what it was going to be, and we let it go. But the anniversary gods were smiling because 20 minutes before the first doorbell rang, the clouds parted and the sun came out. The spirit of the day remained sunny inside and out. I was so proud for my parents as each one of approximately 120 guests came in through the door, loving them and paying tribute to their marriage and their indomitable spirit.

Their three grandchildren and my brother and I toasted Mom and Dad, and my friend Cheryl read beautiful poems she had written for them. The sing-along was just a joyful sound of willing voices, and we sang everything from “April Showers” to “High Hopes”. I wasn’t quite sure how it would be received, but I am telling you, it was so evocative of a time gone by for everyone there, especially my Mom’s family who spent every family dinner and gathering over the years doing sing-a-longs. The food was unbelievable and easy to eat, thanks to our dear friend Sandy, who catered the event and left no stone unturned in the planning. She considered my parents special likes and needs every step of the way, and made sure that they were catered to first and foremost, with them as paramount. And she topped it off with a layer slab cake that each guest signed with a coloured gel-frosting pen!

But it was what it meant to my Mom and Dad that will always stay with me. They were so thrilled to see their extended family and old and new friends come together. The feeling in the room was such a swell of love for these two people and I know that they felt that and took it all in. I think in a spiritual way, the day did more for them than every single pill in their blister packs.

Recently I have been taping my Mom and Dad talking about their lives, and it has been so wonderful to hear all of their stories and memories. As I asked each question they would answer immediately and sometimes differently. But when I asked them what has been, for them, the greatest thing about their time on earth, they both answered at the same time without even thinking: ”It’s the people.”

And it was, indeed, all about the people at this party. It was a celebration of present friends and absent friends. And as I looked around at each sweet face and snapped slews of happy pictures, Jim and Anne’s Anniversary Sing-a-Long Party, became one of those huge days in life that is endless in blessings.




















Barbara: Aw, Deb, so so lovely! I am truly sorry we missed it, for I’ve been to a few of the events you’ve thrown for your parents over the years and they are always unique and special parties. I told you already, but I have to say again how much I love these photos! I love the character and feeling you've captured in every one.

As I mentioned last week, I was away in Montreal for the 25th wedding anniversary of our very good friends. I am happy to report that our celebration—while not one of sing-alongs or Sandy’s cooking—was also a sweet reminder of great friends and wonderful memories and the special bond that comes from years of shared experience. And, while not Sandy’s, the food and drink were also extraordinary. It was just an unforgettable evening. And, what with our gastronomic anniversary dinner with my dad and stepmom, our delicious dinner at my mom’s with Michele, and several chances to see our daughter despite major scheduling overload, and despite the nerve-wracking and ongoing email snafus on my end, it was a truly wonderful weekend. Now back to reality!

45 comments:

  1. Looked like a lovely time! 120 PEOPLE! Your parents have definitely done something right! :] Now I miss my family...but my parents will be here this weekend!

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  2. How lovely. You know, one of my favorite treasure is some old tapes of my Scottish great-grandmother talking about her life growing up in Scotland at the turn of the century, her siblings, church outings, school, working in a women's corpes during WWI, meeting her husband, and moving to America. It is so sweet to hear her voice and think of her. Your family will cherish the tapes you make of your parents talking about their lives.

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    1. I agree Molly. I am so glad you have some tapes of your own. They will always be special to us and our great great grandkids!

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  3. Deb, the look on everyone's faces says it all. You put your heart and soul in to the preparations and it appears everyone was touched in a special way. You can just see the love and happiness in your photos. What a wonderful family event and now a beautiful memory you created. Your parents look terrific! Well done and thank you for sharing these beautiful photos with us. You can almost "feel it".

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    1. Thanks Jo, Barb said that too about the photos. Everyone was so happy to be there!

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  4. AWWWWWWWWWWW!!!! I love it!!! I love it!!! I love it!!! So much fun!!!

    Luke and Megan look so adorable together! <3

    Love the Pictures....Love your Parents.....Love the painting on the wall behind them.....Love that gorgeous green glass pear thing on the shelf....Love that colour...... Love your House....Love the cake (Tell me more about the cake...I see autographs!! LOVE the autographs)....Love you.!!!! -- Ok I'm officially out of words now!

    P.S. I might come back... ofcourse when I'm done hyperventilating because of the clarity of the pictures and the positive vibe I'm getting from them!

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    1. Thanks Shalaka! The signatures were with icing gel tubes and people just wrote their names. It was so great to have the names of everyone there all over the cake!

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    2. Awwww....!!
      And more pictures..!!! Honey you look Gorgeous!

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  5. Oh Deb, I am so so happy that their party went well! The pictures are lovely. Everyone is so happy. It's events like this that make people realize what they have, in regards to family and friends.
    I love the cake, such an interesting idea for one. I just hope you made sure that you got into some pictures; I know being the photographer often means you're not really in any.
    Again, so happy for your parents! Lots of love to them.

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  6. Steph I am in pictures yes, but Barb must not have gotten them as she did not include them! It was an event we will never forget!

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  7. Good morning, all. Yes, my email headaches continue and abound!! But I did finally get a second email of photos from Deb and have now attached them here. More beauteousness, Deb! Wow, do I love that dress on you!

    Thanks for your patience, everyone, re the email sitch. Although, strictly speaking, not sure whose patience is being tried short of my own and probably Deb's!!!

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  8. Thanks Barb! You KNOW that I understand as I am going through computer stuff too! What the?

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  9. You can see the happiness in your parents' faces and I love how you honoured their 65 years together!

    ~Carolyn~

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  10. I agree with the rest that the idea behind the cake is great! Need to keep it in mind if I ever attend to a big party like this :) Very lovely pictures indeed and what luck with the weather!

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    1. Yes Kasku the cake was a brilliant touch by our Sandy! And really, you could write anything on it, messages or wishes. We choose signatures.

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  11. Sixty-five years - that definitely deserves celebrating! Congratulations to them!

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  12. Deb-so happy the event turned into the blessing it was and that your parents had such a wonderful experience. The smiles in the pictures say it all! Bless your lovely family Deb and may you have many more wonderful gatherings! XOXO

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    1. Mary thank you, I will take that to the bank!

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  13. So thrilled to see your parents and I was actually able to feel the event. You are a wonderful daughter and take such good care of your loving parents. I have never heard of a slab cake but now see and love the idea. What a great display of love all around. You done good Deb.

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    1. Thanks Madge so much. Lovely message and it is my honour to be a good daughter. They inspired that.

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  14. Wow looks and sounds like you all had a wonderful time partying. And I know I was supposed to be looking at the people in the pictures but I got distracted by how beautiful your house is : ) The people are beautiful too : )
    Congrats to your parents again! Such great ideas for the party; from the singing to the cake signing to the memory videos you are making!! <3

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    1. Thanks Kelly, it was one of those days that may not have been the fanciest in it's venue or the most forward thinking party wise, but it was love love lovely. Thanks so much for seeing that.

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  15. This is lovely, Deb. Just really, really lovely. :)

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  16. I love those pics so much....everybody looks just happy.
    Thanks for sharing the memories with us.
    Sooo beautiful!

    The cake signing is a great idea! =)

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    1. Thanks Becki and isn't the cake signing great? Sandra is a gem.

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  17. Okay, my email is back, yay! This means I found some comments on "Serendipity" that I hadn't seen yet and was able to respond. I also found Deb's "5 crazy things" food list and was able to post it! Phew!!

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  18. I love this post!
    My favorite part is all of the pictures you took. It's like you captured the energy of the moment and when you look at them years later, you can still feel the mood of the party/celebration.
    Also, sorry again for not responding to every blog, but trust me, I read them all. It's my senior year and I'm starting to get swamped with homework :/ so~ I've been kind of picky on the blogs I respond to.

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    1. Garrett please do not feel badly about not responding to everything. I would LOVE to be on everyone's blog responding and I do not get to it. I think you captured the feeling of the party perfectly Garrett and the mood it inspired of all who were there. Thank you.

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  19. hi guys . i am glad all went well . someone must have done a sun dance for you if the weather changed 20 minutes before the party started . that sort of thing doesn't normally happen here in Ireland !

    the party sounded brilliant fun . i loved the idea of signing the cake . how cool ! my own mother would have loved the sing song !

    i loved the pictures . deb your mom is such a beautiful looking woman . i can see where you got your good looks from . it will be great to have all the pictures to look back on in future days .

    it is a great idea to tape your parents talking about their lives i can no longer talk to my dad about his life and i come to realise i do miss it . not just the big important things of our family history but to hear stories like what it was like going to see our beloved manchester united play when my dad was a boy ! luckily enough my dads cousin shelagh is doing my grandmothers family tree but dad can no longer help her now .

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    1. Linda thanks. I am so glad you have someone in your family to hold down the tree with all it's stories. It's important isn't it? So important. I loved that day. I will always love that day.

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  20. *melts into a puddle* That party looks like the ultimate in warm fuzzies!!! AWWWWwwwwww!!!!!!!

    The wrist corsage for your Mom? Yay! Whoever had that idea, NICE TOUCH!

    That pic of Luke and Megan up top? Oh my gosh! They GLOW!

    Look at that crowd just overflowing with love and warmth for your parents! WOW!

    And, doesn't your Mom just look so sassy in the 2nd pic?!? :) :) :)

    And, wow, a cello?!? A CELLO?!??! Yesssssssss!!!

    11th pic down, mischief much? :)

    Oh, Deb, the word fabulous was created for this party!!!!!

    HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, MCGRATHS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    1. I love that you noticed the corsage Rigel. It was my sister in laws idea and I was thrilled that she thought of it. Dad had a boutonniere too. yes they do glow don't they Rigel? My cousin's (brothers) were the cello and guitar player. They are wonderful. 11th down? Hmmmnnn I will check that one out! Thanks Rigel. It has been wonderful sharing with you all. You have all become part of the party and our memories. xo

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  21. Aw Deb, thanks for sharing story and pics. Lovely!!

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    1. You are most welcome Kate. So glad you enjoyed the party.Thanks for coming.

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  22. Deb the photos looks great. Everyone looks like they had an amazing time.

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  23. Looks and sounds like it was absolutely perfect Deb! Everyone looks like they were having so much fun.

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  24. We were Erin. Still are in my mind's eye.

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  25. Tomorrow I have to take wedding pictures. I'm super excited...my first "photo shooting".
    I've been practicing with my Dad's SLR and my bunnies...

    I don't want to disappoint my friends, and take the best pictures ever. *lol*

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  26. OMG! I just left you a phone message... LoVe LoVe LoVe!!!! xoxoxo Sean'a

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