She looks great at ANY age

Happy Birthday - 61!

One year later, and still kickin'.

more from Ginny about our 1972 trip to Europe

Great pictures. Is that Joyce in the brown jacket? the grandkids are adorable. I remembered the taxi driver too in Pompeii taking us for the loooong ride to the ruins. I remember the brand new facilities for the Olympic team in Munich that they allowed us to stay in before the athletes got there. We had hand dryers to dry our hair with for a change. And then the athletes were killed in that very same building.
I remember the most handsome boys in Yugoslavia but by the time they were 22 they looked old. They also thought we were old at 22 whereas Mary was desirable at 18. And strong like bull. I remember getting my hair cut with a knife blade at the Athens sidewalk cafe. And getting robbed at the bullfight in Barcelona by slicing my string pouch with a knife. And the dirty room we rented in Barcelona that had needles for drugs laying in the ashtray in the owners living room. And landing in Florence from the train at midnight instead of the morning with no place to stay. Staying with the nuns in Rome at the nunnery through your friend the priest. Stopping on the Yugolslavian Communist border for hours while they squeezed our toothpaste and ripped apart tampons while looking for drugs.and contraband. Trying to get a discount rate for college students on the Eurorail train when we really weren't eligible for it since we were already a part of the workforce (they held our passports and wouldn't return them and they didn't speak Englisth--can't quite remember the country but I think it was Greece or Yugoslavia). Crying my way through the concentration camp in Munich and only making it half way through because it was so horrific. Going to the beer brewery for a meal because they served free beer and appetizers which turned out to be potato chips. Relying on "Europe on 5 Dollars A Day" to stretch the dollar. Drinking out of the communal wine mug in Greece. Not using the bathrooms in Yugoslavia because they were co-ed with 2 footprints on the floor with a hole. Going through 5 countries before we got constipation pills for all. Gaining 10 pounds from eating the wonderful bread and butter each morning for breakfast ( and also the muscle that we built up from carrying those backpacks with all the bundles tied to the outside.)

from Ginny Bokland Jenison

I wrote something in your blog but I've never done it before and not sure it went through. I love the webpage the kids set up for you. How fantastic. You look fantastic in that bathing suit!!!!! How old were you in that picture? Did Joyce come to the party? I was talking to some friends about ghosts since they have a ghost tour down here in Key West. Do you remember painting the restaurant with the candle going out? I also remember the Vorstopfen (spelling?) pills in Germany. "4 bottles please." Sleeping in the hay loft in Switzerland after reclette cheese on potatoes over the fire. The Greek party at the farm with flowers on our bed in the morning. Blue toilet paper every 6 feet in the field. Staying in the basement of the whore house in Amsterdam and finding out only after we took the boat tour . We were talking to the ladies next door and they were telling us how they weren't working because of the heat wave. They were the whores in the skinniest house in Amsterdam. Pulling our skirts down almost over our hips to get into the Vatican to cover our knees. Ordering a seafood platter in Venice with the fish with heads and eyes and octopus with all 8 legs. The guide through the Greek ruins getting a quickie. The toothpaste smell from laying the tube down on the train shelf. I'm sure you have many memories too. Give me a list and see if we remember different things.
Gotta run! But many memories. :) Ginny

from Lori Sekella

Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you, da da da da da da, Happy Birthday to YOU!!
Sorry we missed your party.
The early report is in..and the party was a success. My sources agreed it was a very nice and enjoyable evening. Cindy was wondering if Joyce was there?

Later
Lori

from Ralph Horan

I feel great knowing you're finally catching up to me in age !

How was the "surprise Party" ?

Sorry we couldn't make it
but someday
We Will
(This life or the next)

Take care
Ralph
H.

from Debbie Cunningham

HI DIANA,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! I HOPE YOU HAD A WONDERFUL DAY .

I AM SORRY WE MISSED TH E PARTY BUT I WAS TO WORK AND NOT SURE OF FINISH TIME. I HOPE YOUR DAY WAS MEMORABLE.

I WILL WRITE LATER, I AM GETTING READY FOR WORK AND DON'T HAVE TIME TO WRITE MORE.

EVERYONE HERE IS FINE. NOTHING REALLY IS NEW.

SAY HI TO ALL. I'LL BE IN TOUCH,

LOVE, DEBBIE

more pictures

we only took a few, but if anyone wants to see the photos chris and i took, they are here.

sorry we were sick at the party. and i'm even sorrier if we got anyone sick. but we did enjoy being there, being a part of the surprise, and catching up with some old family friends.

dito the thanks to all who came out from close and far. thanks for sharing in the love for mom. hope to see you all again in the not too distant future, perhaps at an arranged marriage ceremony?? ha!

"happy birthday" and a quick scan of the room on saturday

Diana's birthday

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Capturing the Moment

A nice "Sixteen Candle"-esque picture.

Party Pix

View pictures from the party here.

Thanks

Boy oh boy. I don't even know where to start. I have the best husband, and the best children and grandchildren, and the best friends, anyone could ever wish for. I can't believe you all started planning this birthday bash back in November 2006 and you kept it a secret all that time. Pretty amazing! Thank you all for ALL your contributions to the party -- photocopying, fans, decorating, guest book, photo cake, video taping, etc. I'm still overwhelmed. I have to get to work now, so will post more later, but wanted you all to know I had a great weekend, and that I'm just stunned by everyone's considerable efforts!

Lisa Dewey Says:

*Our three basic needs for food and security and love are so mixed and
mingled and entwined that we cannot straightly think of one without the
other.*
*~M.F.K. Fisher (1908-1992)*

Thinking of Diana (and Jim) I can only agree with MFK Fisher. When I
think of shared times together, I could dwell on the few years we worked
together but that would be yuck. I think of the wonderful meals we
shared and the multiple glasses of wine (and beer) sitting around the
table. The strongest memory of all is that perfect 4th of July summer
evening, eating dinner on the patio (when? 1993? 1994?), in Buck's
County where Jim was house sitting, and eating this Sour Cherry Crumb
Pie. Food, friends, love -- yes, life IS good. Thank you, Diana for
being a part of that. And Jim, now there's no excuse (except not being
able to find the ever-more elusive sour cherries) for this not to be
made for you -- well before you turn 60!

*/Sour Cherry Crumb Pie/*

1 prebaked 9-inch pie crust

Topping:
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
6 tbsp (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup raw almonds, roughly chopped
Mix the flour, sugar and salt together in a small bowl. Add the butter,
working it in quickly and lightly with fingers. Stir in almonds and set
aside.

Filling:
1 tbsp quick-cooking tapioca
3 tbsp sugar
4 - 4 1/2 cups sour cherries, pitted
In a small bowl, combine tapioca and sugar. Layer the cherries into the
prebaked pie crust in thirds, alternating them with a sprinkling of the
tapioca mixture. Cover the cherries completely with the topping,
pressing down on it gently. Bake at 375° until the topping is golden and
juice is beginning to bubble through, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven
and let cool to room temperature.

The Party

So, a huge thanks to those who came to the party. Mom was really happy with it and totaly caught off guard. It was great to see everyone after such a long time. Double thanks to Val for making it even through so much. I am glad you were there. It made it so complete. Mom means allot to me and I am happy when she is happy. I believe that was complete this evening. Cheers!-Rachel

Diana: The Young Parenting Years


Diana with a very young Rachel and Katie.

Diana: The Teenage Years


Another one of Diana's birthdays... this one from long ago.

Marlene Gallagher Says:

Hi Ben!

O.K., so the last time I saw you, you were about one or two months old. I know you're expecting some kind of trite cliche about time, but I'm gritting my teeth and won't subject either of us to this line of conversation! I love your mom soooo much - I wish I could be there for her birthday but I have plans that I can't break, which is really wierd because usually Jack and I aren't big at scheduling stuff. Anyway, every year I take my daughter Caity to Boston during February break. It's one of the few traditions that I've managed to keep for the past five years. I tried running Spring break by her, but that didn't go over well and, in truth, I really look forward to this time with her.

Please tell my darling Di that WE WILL get together SOON! I'm sure you're inundated with arrangements, so that's not fair to do to you - I'll make sure to write to her and communicate the sentiment myself.

You guys are really sweet to do this for your mom. I hope I have a chance to meet you (out of diapers!) and your sisters in the near future. I met Katey several years ago when she was looking for colleges - she's beautiful, bright and a joy to be around. I'm sure you're all like that!

I HATE not being able to make this party ... I have to see your mom and Jimmy soon!

Thanks for the invitation Ben.

My best to all of you!
Love, Marlene (Gallagher)

Jean Graham Says:

Please share with you mother that I remember fondly our walks up to the French Bakery in Chestnut Hill, and our lunch meetings when we both worked at Penn. I wish her a very happy and healthy birthday.

Cheers!

Jean Graham

Jim Cutshall says:

Okay, now you will have to forgive a husband for bragging on the beauty of his wife.

As I was scanning in old photos of the birthday girl, I got to see images of her from those days in which we were not together. And a couple things struck me. First, it is amazing how much her daughters, and now granddaughters, look like her.

And . . . has anyone but me noticed how beautiful she is? Check out this swimsuit photo from sometime in the 80's. This chick is HOT!! And what a tan. Good thing for me that the fashion photographers from the period were looking for blondes, or else I'd have lost her to Madison Avenue.

And while she may not be thirty-something any more, she is still just as beautiful after all these years. Happy Birthday sweetie!!

Toni Weston says:

Hi Jim,

I am feeling so bad that we can’t make it Saturday. I used to have a box full of memorabilia from the “olden days” (high school) but I just can’t find it. I’m pretty upset about that too because its been awhile since I saw it last so I hope it hasn’t completely disappeared. That would break my heart. So I don’t even have any pictures to share.

Howard & I discussed coming out for the party and it would be so nice to see all her children and grandchildren in person but... its such a long trip to only get to see all of you for a few hours. We decided we should wait until we can come out & spend some less hectic time visiting with you and Diana. I hope it all goes great & is a terrific surprise.

Thanks,
Toni Weston

Dana Lobell says:

Dana Lobell, who worked at Wharton With Diana sends along this birthday greeting.

Dear Diana -

Greetings from Colorado, where I think it's been the snowiest winter I've lived through in my entire life! But eventually the sun comes back out and the mountains are beautiful.

I often think about the insanity of our days at Wharton, especially here at Naropa, where we struggle to raise $1 million in a year. Remember how the money came flying in there? Remember the collage with the picture of Sol Steinberg in a jail cell? Remember New Era Philanthropy? Remember writing scintillating reports about supply chain management? Remember how much Rosemary and Kathy made us laugh? What a crazy place. I've always thought of it as my period of cognitive dissonance on a daily basis. But you were certainly a big part of what made it bearable.

Best wishes for a fabulous birthday and many more years of great joy!

Dana

She looks great at ANY age

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Happy Birthday - 61!

Friday, February 23, 2007

more from Ginny about our 1972 trip to Europe

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

from Ginny Bokland Jenison

from Lori Sekella

from Ralph Horan

from Debbie Cunningham

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

more pictures

"happy birthday" and a quick scan of the room on saturday

Capturing the Moment

Party Pix

Thanks

Monday, February 19, 2007

Lisa Dewey Says:

Sunday, February 18, 2007

The Party

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Diana: The Young Parenting Years

Diana: The Teenage Years

Marlene Gallagher Says:

Jean Graham Says:

Jim Cutshall says:

Toni Weston says:

Dana Lobell says:

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