Gratitude at 80

Turning 80 on March 19 treated me to a week of celebrations with family and friends that made me feel very grateful to have lived this long and kept so many friends.

The opening event was at the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach on Friday, March 15. Since 2018, I have tutored 3 first or second graders each week at nearby Crosspointe Elementary School, a placement arranged through the Coalition, which is headed by my friend Kirsten Calder. Another friend from church, Jeanne Heavilin, and Megan Bob are the staff members who train and inspire 238 of us tutors, facilitating our reach to more than 500 students. Palm Beach may be well-known for rich people, but over 50% of the kids in public schools in this county fail to read at grade level by third grade. That lack jeopardizes their chances for graduating from high school. Each year the Council provides ten free books for each child in the program.

As an 80th birthday present, my dear husband provided funds for a Tutoring Room at the Literacy Coalition headquarters. The room was dedicated last Friday afternoon and most of my family was present. Grandson Thomas and I especially enjoyed remembering the times we had read Pete the Cat books together. They are still a hit with my tutees!

On Saturday evening all twelve of our family members came for a special dinner at our Club with members I’ve known the longest, including a dozen from my Quail Ridge Book Group. I was so excited for them to meet David, Leslie, Margot & Nina from Coral Gables FL, Lilli & Violet from Cambridge MA, and Shelby, Sean, Stephen & Thomas Eidson from Austin TX. Here we all are, ready for my 80th Birthday party!

On a screen in the Club’s Overlook Room, Lilli, David and Shelby showed hundreds of photos from various eras of my life. After a delicious dinner, they took turns reading a new edition of the epic poem they had created for my 60th birthday in 2004. This time, all the grandkids took turns reading verses. In conclusion Shelby, David and Lilli presented me a document showing that they had established a piano scholarship at Rice University in my honor. Nothing could have pleased me more! Fellow octogenarian friends Nina Pitkin and Elizabeth Lodal had sent the tiara and banner. I’ll pass it on to anyone who is not shy about proclaiming our age! The 80s are looking like lots of fun so far! Here are close-ups of four grandchildren not yet highlighted:

On March 19, my actual birthday, the family had all gone home and I spent the day practicing piano accompaniments for a final rehearsal of the Quail Ridge Chorus before our annual concert on March 21. I had time to chat with my brother Joel, Marjo, Elizabeth and several others. Friends old and new sent sweet messages. Here are just a few:

Here’s a poem from my dear friend,  Jeanne Anderson:

Happy Birthday, my dear friend;

Whose energy just does not end!

I guess you are a baby boomer,

But I would say you are a Zoomer!

Every year you travel miles

Sharing knowledge and your smiles,

Your music is a gift to us;

A talent that’s just marvelous!

So Happy Birthday, Martha Dear!

We’ll celebrate again next year!

How very blessed and grateful I feel! The Classical Music Club here at Quail Ridge has inspired me to study Bach’s Mass in B Minor. This morning, listening to it on my walk to the Fitness Center, I realized that the seventh part of the Mass, Gratias Agimus Tibi  (Prayer of Thanksgiving), was the musical expression of what I’ve been feeling.  Here is a performance from Poland.