Lessons Learned...

So my Aunt Alice's birthday was today.

Here she is acting as a bridesmaid for my Mom on Mom's wedding day. 

That was in 1967. 

Here they are in 2011:

Still sisters after all these years.

Aunt Alice is an amazing quilter and made this for Stella:

So we had a party up at Monte Sano State Park for her. 

I might be using the word "we" a bit loosely here. 

I mean, all I did was show up. 

So let me rephrase the statement:

They had a party for her up on the mountain.  

If you've never been to Monte Sano they have charming little cabins with beautiful views to rent. 

Beautiful: cabin, views and food.

Adorable cousins all over the place:

So at any social gathering you have the opportunity to learn all kinds of things.

Here are some lessons I learned today.

Lesson the first:

It takes FIVE different takes to get a picture the teenager approves of:

Lesson two:

Real men don't need plates or buns:

They eat their hot dogs straight off the stick.

Lesson three:

That conversation that looks so deep...

...is really about Pokemon.

Lesson four:

That beautiful moment between father and son that you think you witness and assume is involving phrases like:

"Son, what you need to know about life is..."

Is really just the Dad asking the son "How far do you think you'd get if you took a running jump from 

here?"

Lesson five:

When there is only one shrimp left and you get the honor of eating it:

Be careful, lest this happen:

It was very sad.

My 'last bite' privileges have totally been revoked.

Lesson six:

Granddaddy has good sweet tea.

Lesson seven:

Uncle Robbie makes funny faces.

Lesson eight:

Its fun to lean in and give Aunt Alice lots of goodbye kisses.

Lesson nine:

The dog likes to be carried as much as the baby does.

This crazy girl is happy to oblige.

And lesson ten:

There is an app that shows you:

...what you would look like if you 'ate a hundred cheeseburgers.'

She was happy to demonstrate it. 

She even wanted to test it out on the Chihuahua. 

Here is something I didn't get to the bottom of:

How many people does it take to get one picture of a baby:

Its a mystery. 

But Aunt Alice's age is not. 

However, I'm not telling. 

Happy Birthday Aunt Alice!