Jason's Untimely Thoughts

My mom sent a thank you note to the folks at Cafe Adelaide in New Orleans, especially Courtney, who helped tremendously with materials for AEB’s birthday party.  It included a nice run down of what happened, so posting it here.

I’m writing to give you all the details on Adelaide’s party.

But first let me say that I hope all of you were able to weather the most recent storms without too much damage and that you and your families are all safe and back in your homes and businesses.

We can’t thank you and the Cafe Adelaide enough for all you did.  The things you sent were just unbelievable, especially the placemat you designed.  As you will see, “great minds think alike”.  Your kindness helped us all through this.

Adelaide had a great 6th birthday party at the Country Club on Sunday, Sept. 21, just a few days shy of  her actual birthday on the 25th.  I’m putting a package in the mail to you today that has some things from that party, including a few photographs.

The club has a beautiful brunch on Sundays, and it worked very well for the girls.  As you will be able to imagine from the photos, they created quite a stir.  Adelaide had selected 3 special friends to accompany her for brunch.

Jason & I arrived first and put out the decorations.  We used the placemat that you designed & printed it back-to-back with a placemat that a great friend/next-door neighbor/almost sister to Sarah had designed, even before we received your box.  They worked wonderfully together; each of you had used a different color and a different photo of Adelaide.

Tables were decorated with gerbera daisies, Sarah’s favorite, and we put a ribbon across the table to denote “special service” (just like we received in New Orleans).  Each girl’s place was marked with a small clear vinyl purse filled with a diamond ring big enough to choke a horse, pink sugar swizzle stick, “Hannah Montana” compact mirror,  lip gloss, and a photograph snow globe.   As you will see from the photos, each purse was “fancied up” with your Cafe Adelaide ribbon and other ribbons, with the girl’s name on them.  We had a long, glittery scarf on the back of each chair and a pair of  “classic” rhinestone earrings, chosen by Adelaide for each girl,  for her to put on when she arrived.

The service staff was advised about the party, & they had another sugar swizzle stick to put in each girl’s drink when it was served.

Sarah’s mom & a friend chauffeured Adelaide to get each of the 3 guests.  Adelaide presented each friend with her own fancy hat as she was picked up.  Daddy did the valet parking when they arrived at the Country Club.  He & I left shortly after the “entrance” into the country club, but all assured us that it was a grand time!

After brunch, all came back to Adelaide’s house where many other friends and family were waiting.  Jason had rented a “bounce house”, so the rest of the party was just as much fun for boys and girls alike as the first part.  We used your placemats, napkins, ribbons, etc., here also.  Your bread bags were  “party-favor” bags, something that Sarah always worked really hard on.  This was one of her first ideas on the party theme.  Your matchbooks were set out, and the adults in the crowd took them for souvenirs.

But . . . one of the really special items that I’m sending you is OUR Adelaide matchbook.  Same neighbor/friend/almost sister and Sarah’s mom designed and made these; these are something you will just have to see to appreciate.

I’m mailing these items to you because we want you at the Cafe Adelaide to see what a grand thing you all helped with, in such a huge way.  Please share this with everyone there, and please pass our most sincere appreciation to all who helped with this project.   Sarah was such an amazing person, such a mom, and it’s so great a loss.  It helped to know that we were doing what she wanted for Adelaide on that day.

Again, our heartfelt thanks for your kindness and for all you did.