WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD: Birthday Festivities!

WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”

-Winnie the Pooh

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

-Maya Angelou

This weekend I blissfully escaped the world of rush practice, with its coordinated dance routines, smiley faces, and facts, to celebrate my wonderful Dolly’s 70^th birthday. I flew out of Raleigh late Friday night and arrived in Chattanooga to a happy brother and uncle waiting for me at the gate. Could a girl ask for more? I submit that she could not. Anywho, Saturday was the big day of the party, and oh yeah, did I mention it was a SURPRISE PARTY???? Now while I personally am not a huge surprise enthusiast, I am all about surprising others so this shindig was right up my ally.

Dolly’s family and close friends joined us at their country club for a yummy yummy meal and a truly classic slideshow. We saw baby Dolly. We saw hot Dolly from college. We saw Dolly with Pop. We saw Dolly with babies. We saw Dolly with grandbabies. We saw Dolly ever beautiful, ever kind, and ever smiling. Scrumptious cupcakes and the best cake you ever tasted followed the festivities! Throughout the night we listened to a playlist, designed by my mama and aunts, with classics from various decades. And if the music is good, you dance. And so dance we did. As guests began to filter out, the remaining few of us braved the dance floor to bust a few good moves-the only decent way to send a party out in style. A testament to this party’s true superb-ness could be found in our very own Craig Hollingsworth’s dancing, a gift saved for VERY and EXTREMELY rare occasions. As those of us staying with Pop and Dolly made our way home, I looked around at all the faces surrounding me and realized, once again, how very lucky I am to be a member of this family. Every family has their own brand of crazy and I know too well that God was very generous when he was dosing it out to my people, but our crazy is fun, present, and full of fun and the most meaningful memories. So if that’s crazy, I want no part of normal.

It’s hard not to be impressed with Pauline Whitsitt, my Dolly as I’ve always called her. She radiates a beauty this world is lucky to have experienced and leaves in her wake a joy that has a way of settling you. When we were little Whit and I would spend time at our Pop and Dolly’s house over the summer, just us. We’d eat popcorn after dinner, watch Jeopardy, go to the movies, and stay up late listening to Papa sing and Dolly read us stories. Then we’d go to sleep happy and wake up to a new day full of illicit ice cream trips and delayed bedtimes. I’ve known few things that were more sad than leaving a week of comfort and pure fun at Pop and Dolly’s house. Not because we didn’t want to go back to our parents (I mean they were alright), but because between the two of them (Pop and Dolly), Whit and I were enveloped with acceptance and endless fits of laughter. Dolly has always had a way of making me want to stay. It’s like she refurbishes my heart when I’m with her, dusting it free of whatever problems it’s grappling with and returning it to me enriched. While she’s a little “bossy with the rules” sometimes, she is truly a gem and a constant source of comfort in my life. Thank you Dolly and happy birthday to you!

After a too-short weekend, I packed up my things at 4:30am Sunday morning and after making a short stop at home, in the Charlotte airport, I finally arrived “home” in Chapel Hill and am coping with the idea of facing another week of my Sophomore (what?!?!?!?!?!!) year! (First week blog soon to come!)

Love ya. Miss ya. Mean it.

Kane

Papa and Mama: