Ninety years, but who’s counting?

By libby

December 24, 2007   ·   4 Comments

My mother-in-law, Mary Dubin, about to blow out the big 9-0 candles. Photograph by Jen Dubin.

This is my mother-in-law at 90, about to blow out her birthday candles, Saturday night (her real birthday is the 27th)!

When we told people we were throwing her a surprise party, they said, “Are you sure you should do that? She’s 90 years old.” By this they meant she might suffer a heart attack from all the excitement. But we know her, and she’s pretty unflappable. So she had her surprise and got to eat her cake, too.

Mary Dubin and her three grandchildren, Minna, Shawn and Alex (Alex and Minna are my children, Shawn is my nephew); photograph by Shawn’s wife, Jen.

All the relatives who we usually only see at weddings and funerals came. And the mood was totally celebratory.

We decorated the house, painting 90 candles on the windows in the dining room (Minna and me), and hanging streamers and balloons (done by Alex and his girlfriend, Lindsey). The menu hit turned out to be my lowly pasta salad. I can’t even share the recipe because I use the tried and true method of adding what feels like the right amount. Like everything else, it turned out just right.

Tags: jen dubin, mary dubin

4 Responses to “Ninety years, but who’s counting?”

1. roberta says:

   December 25, 2007 at 9:10 am

   Happy Birthday, Mary!!! You’re looking so beautiful!! love, roberta
2. libby says:

   December 25, 2007 at 7:38 pm

   I am passing along your comment, and should she have a response, I will add it! (She does look great, doesn’t she? She was wearing the cutest little outfit and was soooo happy to see everyone!)
3. anthony campuzano says:

   December 30, 2007 at 8:48 pm

   hey funny small world comment libby, shawn and i attended the same summer children’s theater camp. he’d remember me better via my nickname – tc. my grandmom is 87 and still glowing like your mother-in-law. happy new year.
4. libby says:

   December 30, 2007 at 9:13 pm

   Hi, anthony, oh that is funny! I forwarded your note to Shawn (who just got married in October). He works for Moo Tattoo on South Street, and he’s working on a graphic novel/comic book thingy with my son, Alex.
   I hope your grandmom has many wonderful years to come!!!
   Happy new year to you, too.