Sister's Birthday Call

Can’t tell you how good it feels to call this girl today.. using a local phone number!⠀ .⠀ See, today is my (Phillip’s) li’l sister’s birthday. But Mary Elizabeth (known to most by her pen name @mez_blume derived from a nickname we devised playing circus in our backyard as kids) has lived on the other side of an ocean from me for more than 10 years. She spent the time showing off her brilliance by doing undergrad work at Oxford University, earning a Master’s at the prestigious Courtauld art institute in London, then launching her writing career with a trilogy of fantastic best-selling novels for young readers. (You simply must them check out, by the way.. nobody else seems to write so well anymore!)⠀ .⠀ During her time abroad she met her husband, Gordon, who is wonderful.. all except the fact he’s British, which predictably resulted in my baby sister settling down in the U.K., too far from us. 😋⠀ .⠀ Then we got the great news! She and Gordon would move to the U.S. Not just anywhere in the U.S., but only a few minutes down the road from us! Ever since they arrived this summer, I’ve been enjoying the quality time reconnecting with my sweet sister. To me, there’s nothing more precious than quality time; and I consider priceless the hours we and our kids have already spent with Mez swimming, boating, hiking in the mountains, and sitting to chat with a cup o’ tea in hand. (Some British habits die hard.)⠀ .⠀ Like the picture I hold in my head of a newborn baby girl with thick raven hair, whom I doted on as a barely four-year-old (and perhaps terrorized at slightly older ages), I’m etching new portraits now as my three children get to be inspired by their endlessly creative and caring aunt. No matter the success you achieve, Mary Beth, I’m endlessly grateful you remain your wonderful self—and my little sister. Happy birthday!⠀ .⠀ Now go check out her author’s website (and the NEW video I created to showcase her book tour!) :D www.MezBlume.com