Celebrating the 26th with Patsy in St. Augustine
Some people bring joy wherever they go. For me, Patsy is one of those people.
So when my lovely friend Patsy texted to say she’d welcome a visit from me, I immediately started looking at flights. She mentioned that her son, Chris, would be home in St. Augustine for the month of May, and she asked how my mother was doing. Patsy and I keep up with each other on Facebook, and I’ve always admired how engaged, curious, and tech-savvy she is. I had missed my visits with her, and when Patsy extends an invitation, I do my best to say, “YES!”
This year my theme is 26. I’ve challenged myself to have 26 adventures and to celebrate the 26th of every month. When I discovered that a May 25–28 trip would fit perfectly into my schedule and include my celebratory May 26th, it felt meant to be.
Even better, May 26th happened to be National Cherry Dessert Day. Naturally, I took that as a sign to buy a cherry-print sundress and matching jewelry for the occasion!
It seemed fitting that my May 26th celebration would revolve around cherries, because Patsy herself is like the cherry on top of an ice cream sundae.
She has a gift for making people feel welcome, valued, and loved. Time spent with Patsy is like that sweet cherry you savor. While the cherry sundress was fun, the real treat was getting to spend time with her.
Patsy and My Mother – So Much Alike
One of the reasons I’ve always felt drawn to Patsy is that she reminds me so much of my mother.
They are both warm, kind, charismatic women who light up a room. My mother was popular with the boys as a young teenager, and, not surprisingly, so was Patsy. They were both young brides married to military men, and both embraced the adventure of raising growing families.
As my mother’s dementia progresses, I sometimes feel as though I’m slowly losing little pieces of her—her stories, her memories, and parts of the personality I’ve known all my life. That’s one reason my friendship with Patsy means so much to me.
Of course, no one could ever replace my mother. But learning about Patsy’s life and hearing her stories helps fill a space in my heart. While I am losing pieces of my mother’s memories, I feel fortunate to be gaining pieces of Patsy’s. Every conversation gives me a deeper appreciation for a remarkable woman and for the generation she represents.
During this visit, I had the opportunity to learn more about Patsy’s life. I knew she had been recording her memories and stories with her daughter, Bonnie, and I loved getting to read the finished biography.
That was especially meaningful because I’m working on my own life story this year through a MyStories subscription that Matt and Stella gave me for Christmas. Listening to Patsy’s memories and reading her book reminded me how important it is to preserve our stories—not only for ourselves, but for our children, grandchildren, and future generations.
Beaches, Games, and the Best Adventures
I also feel incredibly grateful to Chris for sharing both his mother and his family with me.
This short trip included a bike ride to the beach, good food, and an evening of poker and games with Patsy’s family. Beaches, games, and family are three of my favorite things, so it was hard to imagine a better combination.
What made it even more special was being welcomed into those family moments. Chris and his family make me feel like an honorary member of the group, and I appreciate every minute of it.
I’ve learned that the best adventures are spending time with people you treasure, listening to their stories, sharing laughter, and creating new memories together.
My May 26th celebration included sunshine, beaches, bicycles, poker, and family. But the best part (the cherry on top!) was Patsy—and that made it unforgettable.
For related posts featuring the photogenic model-like Patsy, check out: Holiday Lunch with Patsy, A-Weeks Alphabet Assists, and Florida MicroAdventures.
