Spanning the centuries 07/24/00

I finally got my facts straight.  The space launch that we saw was Apollo 15,  which took off in summer 1971.  

Less than 20 minutes after liftoff, the Cape was drenched with a heavy rain.  I could understand why Mim & Elsa were pacing before launch.  It moved in really fast.  There was not much talking as we waited in the car to get into the long stream of traffic.  There was so much to think about and too few words to express it.

I do not have many memories of the drive home, aside from looking forward to a wonderful treat - Mim would swing home via Williamsburg so I could get a glimpse of the marvelous restoration.  I was so excited.  I pictured us walking the Duke of Gloucester Street, checking out places from favorite parts of Elswyth Thane's beloved "Williamsburg" book series - Dawn's Early Light, Yankee Stranger and Ever After are my three favorites.  I practically knew them by heart.  I could not believe that I would be on the Duke of Gloucester Street, stroll past the King's Arms, gaze at the Palace and Bruton Parish Church, take in sights that I had seen hundreds of times in my mind's

eye.  I intended to make the most of the few hours we could spare. 

Mim made my day by driving right up to the Williamsburg Inn, which was every bit as elegant and world class as the pictures.  Elsa dashed in to check on if we could get a cup of tea.  When she came back, she and Mim were flashing each other big cheeky grins.  Actually, come to think of it, they had been very excited about this short stop-over in Williamsburg ever since the thought first came up, back on our first night's stopover in Weldon, NC. 

Mim guided the van past the Inn's portico and back out onto the street.  I practically had conniption fits when she, bold as brass, parked right behind one of the colonial houses, even though a sign CLEARLY warned, "For Guests Only."   

I clucked with worry, "The sign says this parking is for guests only.  We will get in trouble."  Mim looked over at me with a very satisfied smile and said, "Only if we weren't guests.  We're staying here overnight." 

Well, I just could not believe.  I do not mean that lightly - I really could not believe it.  I could not believe it when the girls took the luggage out of the car, I could not believe it when they took out a key (that was what Elsa was really getting at the Inn), could not believe it when they set our bags and baggage inside the Orlando Jones law office.  It was a dream come true. 

The girls had dreamt up the whole thing on the first lap down, after I had gone and on about how much I had always wanted to see Colonial Williamsburg.  They had called from our motel in Weldon, NC and managed to get reservations for a small residence – it was once the office for a colonial law practice - with two beds, one upstairs for Mim and Brooke, one downstairs for me and Elsa.  They had made dinner reservations at Christiana Campbell's and breakfast reservations

at the Inn.

It was a magical time, especially when it turned out that the back yard of the law office bordered that of the music master's house, so we had a concert that night practically right on our own back doorstop.  I can see and hear it still. 

One of my happiest memories was being able to walk into a colonial home and call it our own, for however short a time.   It really did feel like Tibby Dawes or Julian Day might go past us at any moment, that we would spot St. John Sprague with the beautiful Regina on his arm. 

We were pampered the next day at breakfast.  What wonderful service in what a beautiful setting.  Breakfast at the Williamsburg Inn is still a favorite memory of mine.  I hope to enjoy it again at least once before being reunited with Pete. 

Special does not begin to describe that stay.  I was very lucky to have the sort of daughters who recognized a dream when they heard it, then did their best to make that dream a reality.  I blessed them then, I bless them now for the loving thoughtfulness and generous natures they revealed to their stunned and happy Mom. 

Am about to don my night cap and wend my way up the wooden hill. 

Love to you all - Grammie Kay

Lemon Bars & Roses 07/24/00

A 2nd posting!   Forgive me, I could not help myself.

Elsa drove John down to Philadelphia so that he could pick up some art

supplies at Pearl on South Street.   She brought me home a sweet surprise - a luscious lemon bar from The Pink Rose.

So many wonderful memories of The Pink Rose, just a block down from ultra  "hip" (I call it just plain weird) South Street yet a world away in its elegance and style.  Elsa and I would drop into the tiny pink and lace jewel box of a shop about once a year for one of their sublime pastries, served with a hot cup of tea - in a bone china tea cup.  I loved watching one of the young staff bring over our selections, served on a white doily on a dessert plate.  It satisfied all the senses. 

My days of indulging in their decadent Raspberry Chocolate Mousse Tart (with fresh raspberries, which would kill me now), luscious carrot cake, incredibly rich white chocolate cheesecake, to-die-for chocolate-dipped macaroons or intensely toothsome cream-filled pastry horns are long past.  Lemon bars are about all I can manage - thank goodness I love them and do not consider myself abused. 

I know I am old when one little pastry can bring back enough memories for a second posting.   

Nite nite and God bless - Grandma L'

Feeling woefully out of step 07/23/00

I am feeling every bit my age today.  I have been involved in a discussion about the Writings and feel like I am out of touch with contemporary thought.

This old Gramster always understood that the second revelation fulfilled and expanded the first and was in turn fulfilled and expanded by the third. 

As I understand what I am hearing, people whose opinion I respect seem to believe that the third is to be fulfilled and expanded by each individual, according to his or her personal inspiration from the Lord. 

Maybe it is my advanced age and low energy level, but that just seems beyond my grasp.  Saying I believe the Writings to be divine in origin and nature and therefore eternal, not subject to cultural bias, seems a fuddy-duddy thing to say.  But it is what I believe. 

Am going to have to ponder on this.

Launch Day 07/23/00

"That is the rocket."

When Mim said those four words, I felt a sensation that I still cannot

describe, dwarfed by the reality of what  that bright gathering of light was, getting stronger and brighter in the distance. 

I cannot remember much other than tracking that incredible light as we pulled off I-95 and headed across the Beeline Highway toward Cape Canaveral (the town is still named that, as it has been for over 200 years;  only the government installation is called Cape Kennedy). 

A thrill ran through me when I could actually see the rocket, standing at the gantry, in a crossfire of spotlights.   

Miraculously, Mim managed to get a parking space - the last one - along the shoulder of the main road that parallels Cape Kennedy.  Wonder of wonders, we were parked directly across from the Titusville Holiday Inn - bathrooms!

We woke Brooke up so that she could see the awesome sight of the rocket against the pitch black night sky.  I remember her rising up behind the back seat - Mim described it as like a sea monster rising out of the ocean - taking a look, then diving right back to the mattress.

It was around 4:30 a.m. at this point.  The joint was jumping!  People drove up and down the road, looking enviously at our prime location.   

I realized how hungry I was and was looking forward to the Holiday Inn restaurant opening up for breakfast.  It was Mim who noticed that the motel's sign said, "Buffet served from 4:00 a.m.”   Mim did not want to make Brooke get up, so she stayed with her while Elsa and I hot footed it across the road to FOOD. 

What an experience - eating a hearty breakfast from a table with a perfect view of the Apollo rocket, drenched in powerful spot lights.  Elsa described it as surreal and it was.  We got some goodies to take back to Mim and Brooke and headed back to the car. 

It seemed like forever before the sun came up.  The four of us headed

over to the Holiday Inn parking lot to watch the launch of the totally

unobstructed rocket.   

Some grey clouds were gathering to the north (we were southeast of the launch site), but they seemed pretty far off.  I could not understand why Mim and Elsa started pacing at the very sight of them.

"Mom," Mim explained. "In Florida, storms can roll in at a moment's notice, scrubbing the launch."   

Sure enough, by the time the launch was ready for the final countdown, a bank of grey clouds formed a backdrop to the rocket - far off but definitely there.

Everyone turned up their portable radios when it got to T minus one minute and counting.  Everyone joined in when it got to 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.  

A chorus of radio announcers said, "We have ignition and lift off."  Even now, 25 years later, I get chills.   

Nothing could have prepared me for the sight of that great rush of flame coming out from the rocket engines.  It reminded me of Bill Buckley's reply to a reporter who asked him how he would describe the launch of Apollo 11 - "With silence." 

Words cannot convey the scene or the feelings I felt as that slender rocket lifted up out of the flame and, propelled by the thrust of its mighty engines, rose into the sky, the deep grey emphasizing the glory of the flame and the whiteness of the rocket that was moving in what I can only describe as an elegant path upward. 

All I could think of were the men who were sitting at the top of that rocket and of their vulnerability.  It was embarrassing to realize that I was crying.  I did not want to embarrass the girls, so I started to blubber an apology. 

Mim gently put her hand on my arm.  "Mom, look around you."   

All around, I saw awestruck, tear-stained faces.  In our hearts, we spoke one wish to those brave men - "Godspeed and a safe return."

Love to all of you from this earthbound Gramster