a little red hen: Audrey's Birthday, 70 and Rising

When I look at this photo, the person looking back at me is my unexpected friendship-find, Audrey. Does anyone write about the challenge of retiring to a new place like New York City-- after sixty?

I mean the reality, not the fluff about "stimulating environment, so much free cultural life...yada yada." That we both have done it is one small part of our bond to one another. The rest is hard to put into the words that would give you a picture of a woman who turns seventy this month. Decided to give herself a birthday party because she's delighted to be here. There have been some big scares along the way.

Is there more to say? Of course. Instead here's a summary about this photo. Ron and I had just had breakfast at Audrey's. Because we were returning a borrowed portable crib. We talk about how it has worked for our respective grandchildren. Very few grandmothers I meet have this sort of exchange with me.

Main conversation is her meeting Elizabeth Edwards, wife of the candidate, and how she considered going to Iowa to work on the campaign. Then another woman we know told her she was considering a similar trip to support another contender. "Listen, she told this woman, you stay home and I stay home because otherwise we'd cancel each other out." My expectation is she will be working very earnestly locally.

As she always does. Different as we are--and there are many ways--in our life styles and histories, we share the fire to be players in the movements toward social justice in America. Sound grand? Not if you, like us, were the child of the depression and the message that came through your familes was about your personal obligation for tikkun olam, to heal the world.

Audrey is the only peer for whom I've knit. "A warm one, like that," she said pointing to one made for myself. That's as close as she comes to yarn. Except to exclaim as she showed us the mask above. Getting ready for a Halloween party, she'd decided to take this one off the wall. But needed something to tie it. "You have something?" Certainly--from the sweater I'm working on! Ron noted later it was like watching two girls in grade school getting ready for an assembly.

Yup, that's how it is. Photo to left is from a pre-theatre N.O.W. reception for the musical "Walmartatopia." She could hardly sit through it. "Yes," I agreed, "bad theatre for a good cause." Often our roles are reversed; sometimes we argue--usually about organizational tactics in TTN where we met. Tonight we celebrate.

Happy 70th, Audrey!

February 2012