CELEBRATE the Artist and the Hippie and the Friend!

Today is December 12, 2010 and the anniversary of the birth of Susan Joy Fox Hirschman.  Let's celebrate this day of joy with her and wish her safe travels as she soon prepares to go to the sun in the Carribean to celebrate.  We first met when we started Sunday school when we werer 5 - you know how old I am...and Susan is 21 days younger, so the years are more than you can count on all of your fingers and toes. 

My gift for my friend - many Relationship Recipes that WORK!!  Over the years we have learned and grown from one another- our living learning laboratories for working on relationship issues - learning to listen and to value what is truly important in life - love, compassion a nd caring.  We have learned to be more listener than reactor and can only hope that our lessons learned can be passed on to those with whom we relate!!  We can be role models and have gentle conversations - whether or not we are heard has to do with the listener.  Whether or not there are changes also has to do with the perceptions and wishes of the listener.  Sometimes this is a challenging lesson.

You are doing well Susan Joy - let the relationship recipes continue!!

These are my birthday gifts and wishes for you today my friend!!

Artists and Hippies...the Real US!!! Happy Birthday Girls!!

Sixty five years ago - 3 weeks apart - and unbeknownst to them, these two spirited individuals were born in parallel Universes that five years later brought them together when they began Sunday School.  They were Barbara Martie Wogan and Susan Joy Fox. Tah dah!!  In the early years, they played with friends and loved to ride their bikes around and about and build castles in the sand next to their beloved ocean in Wildwood, NJ.  Life's circumstances changed and somewhere in high school, they grew in different directions.  Barbara went off to Philadelphia to become an early childhood educator (and later became Martie) and Susan went off to Washington, D.C. to study Political science and march on the Mall - later becoming a clay artist.  Years ago, at a craft show in Philadelphia's Memorial Hall they remet and just sat on the floor and shared and talked.  Now many years later, they spent the day in Alexandria, VA visiting and catching up!  As they sat in the Fireside coffee shop, they met two 'girlfriends' from Harrisburg, PA who had know one another since third grade!  Cool.  Martie and Susan asked them to take their picture and spontaneously they said, "You two look like artists and hippies!"  Hey, that is an ultimate compliment and one to remembered for many more birthdays to come!! It brought joy to Martie and Susan's heart and will create a glow for many birthdays to come.