Pam

I am beginning to feel a bit like the Writer's Almanac, except it's The Summer's Almanac. I am celebrating all the people I love's birthdays. Well it's my blog and I can party if I want to! And besides, it's PAM'S BIRTHDAY!

I cannot adequately describe Pam's relationship to me. I used to call her in passing as "My sorta step-mom," but that would indicate that she had been or is sorta married to my father, AND that can't be farther from the truth. She is married to my mom's second husband, Gary, who is also the father of my younger brother, Blake (still with me?). If you surmise that she is of no legal or blood relation to me, YOU SURMISE CORRECTLY. That is why, it is all the more PUZZLING and UNUSUAL and WONDERFUL that she took me in as one of her kids, when I was 8. If you know Pam, this is not quite unusual behavior. She has a habit of taking in strays. Nearly all her cats historically have come to her in this way. Not only that, she takes them in and feeds them TURKEY and HALF & HALF.

I can tell you, as one of her early strays I DID NOT get turkey & half & half--but I did get some of the best meals I'd gotten in any home. When I was 8 years old, she came by one morning, with my brother, to give me a ride to school. When I didn't come out, she sent Blake, my 4 year old brother, to come get me. When I appeared in a soiled, wrinkled dress that had been picked up off the floor, my hair in knots, with a rotten grapefruit for lunch, she made a decision. Instead of taking me to school, she took me home and brushed my hair and made me a lunch. From that point on, she made sure I had a lunch. I remember those lunches CLEARLY. They had peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwiches, grannysmith apples, crackers, and a thermos filled with cold OVALTINE. I WAS IN HEAVEN. It's a story that still makes me cry with appreciation, and sincerely it is only the TIP OF THE ICEBERG of what she has provided for me.

There are a million things I could go on and on about in regards to Pam. She is GOOD AT EVERYTHING SHE DOES. She's the kind of person that just seems to KNOW EVERYTHING. How do you fix some crumbling stairs? She knows. How do you tell if a cat is pregnant? Believe me, she KNOWS. She is an incredible cook, sewer, artist, craftsman, carpenter, you-need-it-done-she-knows-how-to-do-it-person. She made EVERY SINGLE NAPKIN for her son, Josh's wedding, so that the tables could be COLOR CODED by NAPKIN. She also is the most RUTHLESS Scrabble player you'll ever be up against(beware, people). She taught me the love of books, quiet walks on beaches, and the beauty of shells and driftwood. Her homes have always been filled with incredible collections of everything from toys, masks, thriving plantlife, and cool antiques. Oh yes, and jars of CANDY. Basically, if the shizzle goes down, I am going to PAM and GARY'S house, because why not greet THE APOCALYPSE with chocolate in your mouth and a good book?

She is also a very private person and doesn't like A LOT OF ATTENTION (hi Pam!), so I am sure she is SQUIRMING IN HER SEAT as she reads this and sees her PHOTOGRAPH UP FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE. There is a joke in our family that if you want a photo of Pam, we always have to catch her UNAWARES. That's why for years the only images we had of her was turning around at the sound of her name being called. Not exactly the best images to have for posterity. That is one of the reasons I love this picture. It was taken in Max's Opera Cafe, in San Francisco, after one of those perfect days where it's good weather and everything is delightful. When I took this picture, I had the feeling that I was AT LAST getting a VERY RARE and GOOD LOOK at an otherwise shy creature of the wild. I took it quickly and QUIETLY. It is STILL my favorite picture of her and it reminds me of a perfect day we had together and how many days are great when you spend them with Pam.

Happy Birthday.