A Toast To Helen & Grace

Vero Beach

NoLL

My mother's name was Helen. Her sister was my aunt Grace. Grace lived in Hialeah, Florida, near Miami. Helen was a freqent visitor in the 1940s and 50s. When the two of them were together they had great fun partying.

One story that I and my siblings often heard was how Helen and Grace would drive from Miami up to Vero Beach to go to a certain restaurant that they really loved. It was the Ocean Grill. It just happens that the Ocean Grill is still there and that it is less than a mile from the marina where Tarwathie is moored.

Sunday was Libby's birthday. Coincidentally, it was also my brother Ed's birthday. To celebrate this double birthday I invited Ed to join us for dinner at the Ocean Grill. So Ed came with his wife Sally and his daughter Kristi, and Kristi's husband Phil, and Kristi's new baby, Natalie -- age 10 months.

We all had a great time. We imagined that we were sitting at Helen and Graces's favorite table and we raised our glasses in tribute to our much loved but passed away relatives.

Below, Phil and I clown around with Natalie.