Celebrating Bubbie's Birthday

Today, March 14, 2013, 

would have been my Bubbie's 84th birthday. 

Left to right: Bubbie, my mom, my sister Jennifer, my brother, myself, and Jeddie (my grandfather) on Jeddie's birthday

As all lives do, my sweet Bubbie's came to an end on June 18, 2011. In the time that has passed since, I have often found myself comforted with fond memories and mementos of Bubbie, as well as the love and support of my remaining family.

Bubbie and I at my graduation ceremony at Duquesne University, when I finished grad school in 2007

I have written about Bubbie before, and I often refer to her in my everyday life. She was, to put it plainly, my best friend. Bubbie always used to tell me that I was "#1"(sorry brother, sister, and cousins...it's true.) It is a fact that I was the first grandchild and the oldest, though, so I will concede that my birth order may have influenced my moniker.

Bubbie was without a doubt my biggest fan. There's really no way to succinctly convey all of the wisdom she passed along to me, so I won't make the attempt. 

I will say this though: before she passed, Bubbie named ME as the matricarch of our family.

ma·tri·arch  

/ˈmātrēˌärk/

Noun

1. A woman who is the head of a family or tribe.
2. An older woman who is powerful within a family or organization.

Just to be clear, Bubbie is survived by my mother and my aunt, with my mother being the eldest of the two and the assumed "heiress" to the matriarchal role. Those facts aside, Bubbie saw fit to bequeath this important family position to me. 

Initially it was lighthearted; a bit of a family joke...except that it wasn't a joke. 

Bubbie charged ME with maintaining order and balance among our family. She left me with the responsibility to take on HER role: to keep everyone safe, encourage new ventures, discourage poor decisions, and make sure that the family unit continues on as one unbreakable force.

...piece of cake, right?

Bubbie always said that cardinals were spirits of loved ones passed; they are guardians who watch over us and make sure we are safe on our way. This winter, I noticed that the most brilliantly beautiful bright red cardinal has taken up residence in the small bush on the edge of my patio. He sweeps in and out, pausing to peer in and make sure I'm doing what I need to do. 

This is the kind of thing that brings me joy: the smallest symbol that makes me know that Bubbie will always be with me. 

So, on this very special day, I have taken the time to honor and remember my dear Bubbie. 

If only she could be here to share in my joy.

Fantastic 14: Day 9: Pure Hokum

I had the joy and good fortune to meet Kathleen Stevans at the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition-(NOCC) Pittsburgh Chapter's Annual Walk in September 2011. 

She was there walking in support of a friend.

Though our meeting was brief (that walk is CRAZY busy!), Kathleen followed up by ordering some more items from me, and we became fast friends. Imagine how thrilled I was when I saw that, aside from being an incredibly wonderful and kind person, Kathleen is also an amazingly talented artist.

Pure Hokum is set apart from the rest in that the large majority of pieces are custom order. Check out the Pure Hokum blog, and you'll see a photo gallery of some of the most beautiful hand-painted pieces you've ever seen. 

I have found that, when looking for a unique special gift, Pure Hokum is the place to go. 

Over the years, she has made some gorgeous gifts for me including:

A custom Lady Gaga inspired plate for my sister,

A set of decorative plates in honor of my grandmother,

 (I feel I must include a disclosure here: my grandmother was not a whiskey drinker, or any other kind of drinker. Towards the end of her battle with ovarian cancer, I was visiting with her one day and she told me that she was feeling good because she had drank 4 glasses of whiskey the night before. After some panicked investigation, turns out she had had about 4 sips of red wine.)

 Adorable little plates for a NOCC giveaway basket,

and a gorgeous baby jar for my dear friends.

Kathleen has talent unparalleled in her field of work. This past fall, Kathleen took Pure Hokum to New York for the Jane Austen Society convention, where she showed off a breathtaking collection of hand-painted items.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am to have someone like Kathleen in my life. She is one of those people who make you grateful to have friends. 

Please take a moment to visit the Pure Hokum blog, follow her on Facebook and Pinterest, check out her shop on Etsy, and make a note to contact Kathleen the next time you need a fantastic gift! 

Happy reading!