Old Home Night

I went to a gathering this evening that was something akin to a reunion, as we all came together to raise money for Miss M, who has cancer and will go through stem cell treatment this spring.  I saw people from my old church, who had left long ago, whom I hadn't seen in years and it was great to hug and ask "so, how are you?"  There were also the wonderful people from the old church whom I now see periodically at various things.  I sat with a few of them and chatted with a few more.  Just like old home week.

We were there to raise money, so there were raffles and auctions and vendors.  And I did pretty well:

• I won the auction on two fabulous prints of pencil drawings of birds, including one pissy-looking owl!
• I won the raffle on a set of children's books (from the great Barefoot Press) as well as an autographed copy of Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (whose daughter announced it would be a Broadway musical soon!).  
• I bought some wonderful scented lotion, with bergamot in it.
• And I donated money to the event kitty in order for Miss D to make me a cheesecake in my favorite flavor!  I think we'll save it for June birthday season (and I'll take a poll about flavors, though I'd go with chocolate or plain).   Thanks, Miss D!

I was only very sorry to lose the quilt auction of my friend, another Miss M, with whom I was sitting.  It turned out that the auctioneer awarded it not realizing there were two of us with matching bids (don't ask me how that happened), me and someone else--who just happened to be the celebrant of the evening's expecting son and daughter-in-law with her first grandbaby.  Well, of course, I gave in (and was sorry I'd missed bidding on the quilt before it as I waited for the one I wanted).  But better they should have that cheerful token from this evening of love to wrap that baby in come late summer.  And I still have the two wonderful quilts Miss M helped put together of the squares decorated by many of these same friends at our own baby (babies?) shower seven years ago (almost exactly).  

So, even though it was a terrible reason to have to gather (i.e. helping her to cover medical bills--because a). I'm sorry she's sick and b). I believe in nationalized healthcare), it really was a wonderful night.