I didn’t want to do a new post so soon because I like to leave a few days space because I’m afraid that if I post too many too fast hardly any will get read and I really do hope that you all read the previous post of  Sedona Series  - Part II, but how could I not share this photo immediately and the lovely story behind it?

My girls were home together for the first time since their Graduation Party, this past June 14th, after which Shannon departed for her new life in grad school in Connecticut and Katie returned to Madison where she finished up her life there over the summer at the end of which she received an offer for her first teaching job in Marshfield, Wisconsin.  The reality of their having moved on to separate adult lives has been palpable these last four and a half months.

Back in April, I wrote a post about Katie in honor of her 23rd birthday.  Among the many things that I shared about her included the fact that she has a hobby of collecting vintage hats.  Shannon left a comment on that post to the effect the she wished she could wear hats like Katie.  This was duly noted by my dear, dear friend Debra.

Debra, who along with her daughter Megan joins me and my girls for an Oscar Party every year, has a talent and a true heart for selecting uniquely suited and highly personalized gifts or gift baskets for whomever will be the recipient for whatever occasion.  This is one of the ways that Debra loves those that she loves.  So with the upcoming college graduation of Katie and Shannon on the horizon, Debra spotted a fabulous blue (Katie’s favorite color since childhood) vintage feathered hat.  Remembering Shannon’s comment on my blog, Debra and Megan set out to find a purple (Shannon’s favorite color since childhood) vintage hat for Shannon as well.  (Sidenote here: not only did they find a purple vintage hat, but one that was still in its original “Gimbles and Shusters” hat box!)  Upon her success, Debra shared with me her delight and excitement over her finds.

Unfortunately, the weekend of the graduation party fell at the same time as the long-held plans that Debra and Megan had for an annual camping gathering out of state.  We decided that rather than having Debra deliver the gifts to our house for the girls to open at the party, we would trust fate to find a time for us all to be together so that Megan and Debra could witness the fun.  As the summer went on, we began to doubt both the possibility of making it happen and the wisdom of our decision, as Shannon would not return to Wisconsin until sometime in the fall and who knew whether or not we could corral all of us at one time!  After all, Debra and I only live a half an hour away from each other and we only managed to get together once over the summer!

Well, today serendipity and fates collided and we all stood together in our living room as Katie and Shannon opened their gifts, having not an inkling of what was inside.

Could this be any sweeter?

Somebody once told me: “It’s all about love.”

Indeed!