RHYS BOWEN: Over Thanksgiving this year we had a big family celebration: my husband John turned 90. For this momentous occasion I rented a big house so that the whole family could come in and stay together. When I say big house, it was more like a mansion... eleven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a casita with a complete games floor, grounds with swimming pool, putting green, spa etc etc.
The family all arrived, including our niece from England. We had a lovely Thanksgiving Day, with all the trimmings.
Then the next day was to be the official celebration of John's birthday. 
Daughter #2 woke feeling sick. She was taken to urgent care. Type A flu. She started masking and distancing. Then granddaughter #3 felt sick. Off to urgent care: not flu, not Covid. Upper respiratory infection. Since they live nearby in Phoenix she went home to her own bed. then grandson #1 felt sick. He went to bed.
Granddaughter #1, who has inherited a lot of my personality, suggested, wickedly, that everyone who fell ill had once crossed her... evil chuckle. She was just kidding, of course, but shows she is a mystery writer's grandchild. (and note. She didn't get sick... one wonders....???)
We had a catered meal of John's special food, a fabulous evening of presents and everyone had to present a poem or song. They were hilarious. Lots of laughter.
Then next morning daughter #3 and husband felt bad. Daughter in law felt bad. Niece felt bad. Guests were dropping like flies. My son, the magic chef, made a huge soup of leftovers that just felt that it had healing properties. We all parted the next morning and John started feeling sick. He went home, slept and ran a fever. So off to urgent care for him: Type A flu. He is on Tamiflu and feeling much better. I started taking it preventatively.
We all had a good time. John's birthday celebration went perfectly but all the things I thought we'd do--the fiercely competitive ping pong, bocce ball, putting tournaments--never happened. It was definitely low key. It seems that everything is uncertain these days, doesn't it? We have had to cancel four cruises in four years. At least this latest wasn't Covid but still not fun.
I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful with no sniffles of any kind. (And as I write this I'm still feeling well. Fingers crossed....)
I'm trying to imagine an eleven-bedroom house . . . how wonderful that you were all able to stay together and [despite the unpredictable and untimely illnesses] had a lovely holiday. Happy Birthday to John . . . .
ReplyDeleteGlad you have a good time with family, despite a few being sick. I hope everyone is well. Happy Birthday to John.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely unsettled times, still. But what a wonderful milestone to celebrate! I hope John and everyone else feels better soon.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing place. Love the pictures. Your husband looks fantastic at 90. Happy Birthday, John!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to John!! Despite the family members being felled by different ailments, at least you were able to celebrate this milestone in person. My dad turned 90 during the beginning of the first pandemic lockdown in late March 2020. I couldn't travel to Toronto to see him in person. He passed away the following year.
ReplyDeleteMy deepest condolences, Grace. I remember seeing you the day before the lockdown at the Left Coast Crime conference in San Diego.
DeleteDiana
DIANA: Thanks, he was the last of my family in Canada. And of course I was sick with COVID for months after returning from San Diego LCC so I wouldn't have been well enough to travel (even if there hadn't been a lockdown).
DeleteJust saying that everyone should focus on those precious family get-togethers and memories.
You are so right Grace. Lots of people, including you, lost a lot over these terrible years. We need to celebrate what we have like mad!
DeleteLove you, dear Grace.
DeleteOh Grace, I’m so sorry. The pandemic created so many heartbreaks. My parents were in Australia and I didn’t get there in time to say goodbye to my dad. I still regret that
DeleteRhys, how incredibly sad! I know that you based Georgie's granddad on some of your favorite things about your father.
DeleteI did not get to say goodbye to my dad, either and it still makes me sad.
Grace, your experience with Covid is so shocking when you consider your very healthy lifestyle.
I applaud you for such a good spirit about it all! I also applaud the wicked humor of granddaughter#1. Humor is contagious, too. I hope the beauty, the birthday and the laughter are remembered longer than the spa!
ReplyDeleteWhat a magnificent place for such a magnificent gathering. I'm glad you all were able to have a great Thanksgiving day before the germs struck, and that you were able to have so many positive moments even after people started getting sick. (It certainly says something about the healing powers of conviviality with loved ones.) So sorry your husband got sick at the last, though. I'm hoping you still are well and germ free. Happy Birthday to him, BTW. 90! How wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI hope all of your family has recovered, Rhys. And happy birthday, John!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to John! 90 years! I remember meeting your husband and Dominic at your book event years ago. Renting a 11 bedroom house is a wonderful way to celebrate a milestone birthday. From the photos, it looks like a beautiful place to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your relatives getting sick, though I am glad there were leftovers with healing powers and that urgent care was available. Hope that everyone is feeling better soon.
Thankful that our Thanksgiving was Uneventful, meaning that no one got sick. I am still recovering from accidentally hitting my nose while trying to get dressed about two and half weeks ago. I need to remind myself about mindfulness and slower movements.
Diana
Happy Birthday to John! So sorry the gathering didn't go quite as planned, but I appreciate your good humor about it. Even with the illnesses, it still looks like a wonderful time! We all need to savor our blessings more, as you exemplify so well here.
ReplyDeleteOh, no! What a disappointing turn, but hopefully everyone will be well soon. It looks like a beautiful place, perfect spot to plan a murder . . . I'm not a mystery writer's granddaughter, but I am a mystery reader after all! ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou and John look great, Rhys! And not just "for your age", either. Hope John recovers quickly, and that you can avoid getting sick altogether. Love the idea of a big family get together, but now officially known as a "superspreader" event, I guess. My mom was just in a beach house over the holiday with 27 other people; so far, so good.
ReplyDeleteI started having a scratchy throat in the late afternoon on Friday of Crime Bake. At first I thought it was from talking so much, and dry hotel air, but by the time I went to my room I was starting to feel suspicious. The next morning I was really sick: chills, fatigue, head congestion, and coughing, coughing, and my throat was raw. Had an Instacart delivery made from a nearby CVS of cough drops, masks, etc., then stayed in bed. Finally decided to go home a day early.
When I got home I took three Covid tests in three days, all negative, but I was still very sick so I went to the doctor. The rapid test showed Flu B, and too late to take Tamiflu. I'd been keeping in touch with Edith, Judy Singer, Debs, and Lucy, because I'd spent time with them all on Friday. So glad I didn't spread this their way. The nurse said "flu lasts 5-7 days". I was in bed, sick as a dog, for 15. Thanksgiving plans went out the window. Steve made a mad dash to the store on Wednesday to get a small turkey, at least.
Good wishes for good health over the rest of the holidays to all.
Karen, I hope you are all better now because when you are, we can laugh about this! I was so excited to finally meet you in person that Friday night that we began with a great big hug! Then we sat together with Edith and laughed and talked and laughed some more. When you told me Saturday morning that you were sick, I just said, "Ut-oh," but I wasn't going to panick. I did not catch your flu, and am so glad we spent time together in person. It sucks when illness ruins a vacation or an event. You were a trooper!
DeleteThank you, Judy, I felt the same, and was so disappointed I didn't get to hang out with you more. As soon as I started feeling the throat issue I began trying to stay away. So glad it worked!
DeletePretty much all better now, thank you.
Karen, I saw that you had been really sick. I hope you’re on the road to recovery now. How strange that type A and B are circulating at the same time! Our crowd all got horrible coughs. Daughter Anne, who got it first, is still coughing and coughing. Of course they all came in on planes, through airports…. And strange that one of us, with the same symptoms, tested negative for flu.
DeleteKaren, I was so sorry we didn't get to spend more time together--and that you missed the dancing!--but glad you are on the mend now.
Deleteit was such a bummer to get sick at the conference Karen! Thanks for looking out for the rest of us so carefully. Glad you are feeling better! xo
DeleteRhys I would like to be invited next time when there are no germs. All the games and contests and poems sound like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteJungle Red retreat?
DeleteWow! That’s too bad several got sick. But the bright side was that you were all together. And Happy Birthday to your husband. 😍
DeleteWhat a way to celebrate a birthday!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous idea for a big birthday celebration and a gorgeous location. Happy 90th. Birthday to John.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that family members became ill during your weekend event. It's good that the Tamiflu seems to have helped curtail most of the symptoms for John and prevent it for you.
Looks like a great celebration at a beautiful place, despite the illnesses. I hope everyone is ok now, and so glad that John is better and that you haven't come down with anything.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like such a lovely place to gather. Hope everyone is recuperating. We spent 3 weekends in a row including Thanksgiving visiting a relative on hospice, who sadly passed and then the funeral. Multiple exposures to family members who had various forms of the crud which thankfully my husband and I seem to have escaped catching. It was a celebration of life but in a much different way than yours for John.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to John! We have a big family get together for Christmas. I have masks and COVID tests and with everybody vaxxed, am hoping for the best with lots of outside time.
ReplyDeleteI am reminded I need to get my flu shot. Maybe this morning before family arrives for the holidays.
DeleteHappy birthday to John! Sorry to hear that people got sick, hope everyone has recovered well by now! And even if you didn't get to engage in lots of games, etc., sometimes low-key is just as memorable. Stay well!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to John. You both look decades younger. I think you have miscalculated your ages!!
ReplyDeleteWow, wow and wow what a stunningly beautiful house and grounds.
Sorry so many got sick but glad every one is on the mend.
Lovely photos, Rhys. Happy birthday to John and I hope all are recovering quickly.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the MANY things I love about you, Rhys! You can make an annoying situation sound absolutely hilarious and Agaha Christie-esque.! You are so good-natured and patient and uncomplaining..and your whodunnit granddaughter sounds like your next co-writer. Socially distant hugs to the fbulus John, and hope you are all recovered now... xxx. And wow,that house! Even more modern day Agatha.
ReplyDeleteAgatha
ReplyDeleteThings may not have gone the way you wanted them to, but you were all together! John looks terrific! Your family, as a family, has a good sense of humor!
ReplyDeleteMy Thanksgiving was good, but a little bit different from previous years. I was at my sister’s house, and she had a full traditional Thanksgiving meal planned. Except that halfway through the roasting of the turkey, her oven failed. So we basically had a vegetarian holiday meal, eating just the side dishes. And it was good! We still overate, and we laughed and laughed!
DebRo
90 years of life is such a good reason for a huge gathering in a fabulous setting, just sorry the flu big decided to join the celebration. Hopefully all are on their way to bring well, strong and ready for the next gathering.
ReplyDeleteDid you have pudding for dessert? Kind of sounds like your latest book - which I am reading now. Seriously, I hope everyone feels well soon!
ReplyDeleteNo pudding or fruit tarts. Pies for Thanksgiving and cake for the birthday. And no French chef!
DeleteWhat kind of cake? Diana
DeleteWhat an elegant gathering! Yes, everything is SO uncertain these days so cherish moments like these.
ReplyDeleteGood thing you had all those bedrooms and bathrooms-coincidence?
ReplyDeleteRhys, your family gathering was the epitome of Keep Calm and Carry On. Bravo!!! And happy birthday, John!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place for such a special gathering. Happy Birthday to John, who makes 90 look like 60. Meeting him at the Raleigh Bouchercon was such a treat. And, when I had a dinner gathering there, I was so delighted that you and John attended. You and I were at one end of the table, and John was at the other, and he kept everyone on that end thoroughly entertained. I'm so sorry so many of your family members got sick, especially the birthday honoree. It sounds like everyone still got a lot of joy out of the gathering.
ReplyDeleteWhat a family gathering! And you know they'll be talking about it for years to come.
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays to some of my favorite authors.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to John, Rhys!! I hope he is on the mend now!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to John!! It sounds like a wonderful celebration.
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