Seven Hundred and Seventy

This is my 700th blog post. In honor I went searching for images of '700'. This is the favorite of what I found online:

The doorway of the Schermerhorn Building at 700 Broadway in New York City. Built the same year my Lynam grandparents, George and Bessie were born, 1891, it was the home of the National Audubon Society for many years. Isn't it a beautiful rendition of '700'?

Second favorite is the logo from the 700 Club, a New Orleans gay bar. So much more representative of me than the other '700 Club'. James Bond, 007, and I agree, nothing like a martini, "shaken, not stirred".

Next I went in search of graphics for '70' because, you know, today is my 70th birthday. I found this one on the ViCSPA Certified Seed Potatoes page. ViCSPA is responsible for seed potato certification in Australia. Apparently been around as long as I have.

This one, too, I found appropriate (the 1943 - 2013 part):

I had to translate it from Russian into English in order to learn that "We continue to accept work on media competition devoted to the 70th Anniversary of the Victory in the Battle of Stalingrad."

So far today I've received birthday greetings from friends and family in Arizona, California, Kansas, Michigan, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Wisconsin, in addition to many Iowa locations.

This picture shows gifts from my eldest, Douglas, and wife Shelly:

The wine is St. Supéry's Sauvignon Blanc which I've been searching for since first sampling it with class mates at a wine tasting at our 50th class reunion two years ago. Unopened as yet, but I'm sure as delish as I remember it being. The cute tee shirt goes right along with that 700 club logo.

Next on my day of simple pleasures is going to be afternoon tea with my new favorite tea:

Bigelow's 'Lemon Lift' black tea: "A distinctive blend with just the right amount of lemon and a dash of spice". That dash of spice is not identified on the label, but I'm thinking it might be cinnamon. Along with the tea, I'm having two of my favorite packaged cookies - Keebler's Sandies Toffee Shortbread.
The little tray the cookies are on is one of the melamine, 'Decorative Crafts of Italy' snack or 'tip' vintage pieces. I believe the FE-VRI-ER in the corner translates to February. The artwork is by Eugène Grasset, an early leader in the Art Nouveau movement.
The R doily is vintage crocheting by my Grandma Delphia Ridnour. R for Ridnour then. R for Ramona now.

Almost 70 years ago, this was my first official portrait. I was probably about six weeks old. That's my cute older brother Ronald helping prop me up - a task he has performed many times during these 70 years.
And a picture I took today:

Not much more hair than I had then. My first attempt at taking a 'selfie'. In a book I read last week I learned of this Angel statue in Central Park:

She is known as The Angel of Waters and strides atop the Bethesda Fountain, the central feature on the lower level of Bethesda Terrace. Learning about her almost makes me want to take a trip to NYC - something I've never wanted to do before.

I know how lucky I am to be celebrating my 70th Birthday. There was a time after my stroke last spring that I wasn't sure I would be. But I had my own angel watching over me that day.

My beautiful Mother, Ruth, was there for my first sixty birthdays and I know she is still with me in spirit, watching over me as only a Mother can.

One of my birthday cards today was this one from my younger brother, Les & wife, Susan. The inside concludes, "What a memory!" But it is what Les wrote below that which touches me: "And what a lovely collection of memories you've assembled in 70 years!! I thank you for the ones you've shared in your Blog."

I began my blog as a means of preserving some of my memories for my children, grandchildren and other family members. As I hit 'Publish' for my 700th post, it is gratifying to know my ramblings are appreciated.

(The magnet came in a birthday card from Les two or three years ago. It reads: "Sisters reach for your hand .... and Touch your heart." ---So do Brothers.)