Anne Mccaffrey's 85th birthday

[GinnyStar]

last few days, and Han's did you get my e-mail?

[Hans]

Nope, KC you can still post or send something.

Yes, Ginny, I got your email.

[Nefermiw]

I've just got a new job, so I've been more busy than planned and have unfortunately haven't had time to make a nice drawing as I wanted to.

I am sure Anne will have a very nice birthday even without receiving a drawing from me.

Hmm, I might write a card instead.

[Hans]

I can still include your wish on the binder, I'm not gonna finish until the end of this week.

[Sandi]

Thanks for the kind words, Lady Maelin and Hans. And Hans, thank you bunches for including us in your special visit!

[Lady Maelin]

Hans...I'd also like to add my personal thanks to you dear friend, for including my own and all the rest of our *MoMer's* most heartfelt *Birthday* wishes to Anne, in with your own, especially since we all can't be there to celebrate this wonderful occasion with you and Anne.
I hope your trip is an especially lovely one...filled with great views, wonderful dear friends, and a bit of an adventure.
Please give my very best of *Happy 85th Birthday* wishes to Anne...hoping that this year will be one of her happiest and healtiest.

[Hans]

Gladly done, you'll understand that

My adventure will be finally meeting Mike Freeman and Tania Opland. Luck has it that we are actually in the same country at the same time! We just missed meeting Tania at the airport, she is arriving a day before us! It took over a decade but a meeting has now been planned!

[Multi-Facets]

Thank you for everything, Mrs. McCaffrey. I once said "'For those with wings, fly to your dreams.' We did, with you." And we still are. Truly, thank you.

Best wishes to you and yours on your birthday. May it be warm and happy.


= Krys B.

[GinnyStar]

Originally Posted by Hans

Gladly done, you'll understand that

My adventure will be finally meeting Mike Freeman and Tania Opland. Luck has it that we are actually in the same country at the same time! We just missed meeting Tania at the airport, she is arriving a day before us! It took over a decade but a meeting has now been planned!

Tell them hello from us too! My own grandmother well be the same age as Anne in July 5 this year.

[Lady Maelin]

Hans, HURRRRAY...well it's better late than never...just remember to get a few photos with them to share back here.

[Tania]

Originally Posted by Hans

Gladly done, you'll understand that

My adventure will be finally meeting Mike Freeman and Tania Opland. Luck has it that we are actually in the same country at the same time! We just missed meeting Tania at the airport, she is arriving a day before us! It took over a decade but a meeting has now been planned!

I think we got as far as same country / same time once before. Now we'll narrow it down: same county, same house... when we get down to same room, we'll celebrate! I can't believe it's been 10 years since we first met StevenB & Lanen in a very crowded Dragonhold hall at Anne's 75th!

[Hans]

The old saying rings true: time flies when you're having fun

[Lady Maelin]

Are Steven and Elizabeth going to be there too??? Haven't seen any post to that effect, at least not yet !!!

[Hans]

No Maelin, I don't think so, I'm sure they would have told me. Tania is referring to events now already ten years ago.

[Lady Maelin]

Hans...I know they went to celebrate with her before...just thought how wonderful it would be for all of you to be there to celebrate together with Anne, this year!!

[Hans]

Originally Posted by Lady Maelin

Hans...I know they went to celebrate with her before...just thought how wonderful it would be for all of you to be there to celebrate together with Anne, this year!!

yes that would be something

[mawra]

Lots of pics please Hans.

[edith]

As I haven't got time to do anything properly I guess that I'll just have to write a greeting hear.

Dear Anne,

Wishing you a happy birthday and many more to come.
Thank you for the wonderful worlds that you have created. They have given me many hours of pleasure.

With Kind Regards

Edith Rogers (originally from the UK but now based in The Netherlands)

[kc]

[Same for me - hope I haven't left it too late.]

Anne

Thank you for allowing me to share in your many worlds, especially PERN.

On 1st April I will be cheering away with your friends and fans, wishing you a massive Happy Birthday and hoping you have many more.

Many Happy Returns

Kathryn Cheetham (KC)
Leeds, UK

[Samsara]

Originally Posted by Hans

Gladly done, you'll understand that

My adventure will be finally meeting Mike Freeman and Tania Opland. Luck has it that we are actually in the same country at the same time! We just missed meeting Tania at the airport, she is arriving a day before us! It took over a decade but a meeting has now been planned!

A double whammy! Thats great Hans. It's wonderful that you will finally get to meet Mike & Tania. You are all going to have a blast!

[P'ter]

I've posted my offering in the Exhibition Hall.

Eann says it's the first fan-fic SHE'S ever had, and she's forwarding it to Anne with my birthday greetings.

[Nefermiw]

Time has flown, and I didn't get to do anything creative, so I'll just write a greeting here:

Dear Anne,

I wish you a wonderful birthday filled with friends and family and lots of nice presents and cakes. May you have a joy-filled year and many more to come.

The happiest of wishes to you from a Danish fan living in Sweden,

Ane Hinnum (also known as Nefermiw on Meeting of Minds)

Hans, you can do what you like with the formatting. I just made it blue and so forth to let it stand out a bit. I hope I'm not too late for your binder.

[Kat]

I kept trying to come up with something to say. And may be too late... but here goes just in case I 'm not.

Anne,

May your 85th birthday be filled with much happiness,love and laughter.

Thank you for the many years of pleasure that your creativity has allowed so many.

Kat Lampkins.(Kat)
Georgia USA

[Valanita]

I got here too late to join in with the personal wishes sending, but I have sent Anne a birthday card.

[Audanna]

I wish I had known about this earlier, I would have loved to have given a rather person message and perhaps have drawn something for her.

Ah well, as i'm just a nip across the water from her, perhaps I'll get a chance to do so myself.

I imagine you will be nearly there no Hans, I hope you're having a great time!

[Lady Maelin]

Valanita and Audanna...at least now you can join in with the rest of us here on MoM to send Anne a lovely greeting for her next birthday.

[StevenB]

Lanen and I have sent Anne some rose bushes for her birthday: One called "Warm Wishes" and the other "Eternal Flame". The delivery time wasn't guaranteed, though, so she could get them any time between a couple of days ago and next week. I hope she likes them, though.

Sorry we couldn't make it over to Ireland to join you Hans. I hope you have a great time celebrating and giving Anne our greetings, love and best wishes.

Happy Birthday Anne!

[Tania]

Originally Posted by StevenB

Lanen and I have sent Anne some rose bushes for her birthday: One called "Warm Wishes" and the other "Eternal Flame". The delivery time wasn't guaranteed, though, so she could get them any time between a couple of days ago and next week. I hope she likes them, though.

...

Steven - they arrived, perfectly timed, on her birthday morning and were waiting for her on the kitchen table when she came in for breakfast. It was a much quieter day than the other "big" birthdays we've been here for. No big crowds, just some nice little visits. I'll leave it to Hans to report on his and Marjon's visit and presentations. We were glad to be able to be here to meet them, and hope to meet up again before we leave.

[StevenB]

Originally Posted by Tania

Steven - they arrived, perfectly timed, on her birthday morning and were waiting for her on the kitchen table when she came in for breakfast. It was a much quieter day than the other "big" birthdays we've been here for. No big crowds, just some nice little visits. I'll leave it to Hans to report on his and Marjon's visit and presentations. We were glad to be able to be here to meet them, and hope to meet up again before we leave.

Perfect timing. I'm glad the roses arrived on the day. I'm also glad Hans and Marjon met up with the two of you at last. Probably the next best thing to a concert tour of the Netherlands.

See you in a couple of weeks when you start your UK tour.

Our continuing best wishes to Anne.

[Lady Maelin]

Steven...We are in the process of planting our new garden and have decided to plant the same roses you sent to Anne, in our garden. The *Warm Wishes* rose is very beautiful as is the *Eternal Flame* I will be a lovely reminder year after year,of Anne's birthday.

[StevenB]

What a good idea. We chose the roses after searching through the catalogue of an Irish garden centre, in which they looked really nice. We never thought of seeing if they were available in the UK.

I'm looking forward to hearing Hans' story.

[Sandi]

I think a lot of us are anxiously awaiting Hans' report!

[Lady Maelin]

Steven...yes they are both available in the U.K., and I would think in the U.S. too, if not I will just order them straight from the David Austin Roses site. I am especially fond of the *Warm Wishes* bush you chose, that one is extremely beautiful.

Yes I agree Sandi...there are quite a few of us waiting on pins and needles to hear about Hans trip!?!

[Samsara]

Originally Posted by Sandi

I think a lot of us are anxiously awaiting Hans' report!

I know I am!!

[Hans]

To the anxious waiters: you'll have to wait a little while longer.

We came home yesterday evening late and I didn't have the energy to get the photos of the camera and post the story. Am now in my lunchbreak at work (trying to catch up, at which I will probably never succeed and especially not of I take short holiday breaks) and letting you know we had a great time and that I will be reporting further tonight.

[Samsara]

We can wait a little longer.

Glad to hear you had a great time (like there was ever any doubt), and I am looking forward to hearing all about it!

[Lady Maelin]

Happy to hear that you are both safely back home again. Can hardly wait, to hear about your trip...but I will try patience for a change and see how that does...UGG!!!

Don't worry about catching up with your work Hans...there will always be more on it's way to your desk.

[Kat]

WORK??!! Where's your priorities!!

O.K. O.K. We'll wait but it doesn't mean we have to like it.

[Hans]

Alright, this might be something of an anticlimax but here goes

After arriving in Ireland on March 31st we contacted Anne's daughter Gigi to see when it would be convenient to drop by. Due to Anne's health there wasn't to be a big birthday party on this very special birthday so we settled on the afternoon of April 1.
The satnav doesn't even know the lane Dragonhold-Underhill is on but luckily by now I kow the way and with the new highway Newcastle is much easier to reach.
So we arrived at the beautiful house, where her daughter, son in law and only grandson nowadays also live to be closer to Anne which makes it a lot easier to take care of her and assist her with daily life, on the dot.

Last year I sent Anne flowers for her birthday in the name of all of us and I couldn't turn up without flowers now, couldn't I? I was tempted to buy and bring tulips (for which the time has now come) but since we arrived the day before the actual birthday I decided not to. Instead -- and without knowing Lanen and Steven had also sent her roses -- Marjon and I bought a small rosebush for Anne and this was the first gift we presented to her after entering the always hospitable Dragonhold.

As I have posted before it was not only Anne we visited this time, it would also be the very first meeting in person with Tania Opland and Mike Freeman, the musicians of two fine Pern CDs. Mike and Tania were already present at the hallowed kitchen table and it felt good to sit in the cosy kitchen at the pinewood table again. After introductions to the people present Anne came zooming in. And I litterally mean zooming in. With what is apparently a rollator with Formula One capabilities she moved into the kitchen so fast, she was sitting in her comfy, cushioned chair before I could have said "Hello Anne, congratulations, I decided to bring the flowers in person this year". Soon we were all sipping tea and eying the cookies on the table to see who would be the first to grab one. I think Mike Freeman won that contest.

First, building up to the other gifts, I gave her something I think she will love: a DVD and CD of three Dutch baritones. One of the better Dutch export products I might say. It is hard to find some opera or operetta Anne doesn't have listened to yet and I think I managed that feat.
Next was the binder I made with the wishes of all fans who posted their wishes on MOM and on AMCF and Master Maelin's wonderful birthday picture which was also included in the binder as the cover!

I immediately lost Anne because she couldn't resist and started reading right away!



Anne was delighted with the booklet as well as with all the good and special wishes she found within. After prying Anne away from her birthday "book" (I was very glad so many of you reacted to my call) I asked whether I should thank you all online at which I received a resounding "Yes of course!" I printed your messages large letter in an appropriate font and with those who didn't include soemthing to print I put your avatars with the message on the page. I think you all did well and Anne was clearly delighted with all the good cheer.
She also clearly loved the birthday portrait and when I explained it was the latest installment in the Anne McCaffrey Birthday Series by Linda Eicher she pointed to the dresser to the side of the kitchen table where the previous portrait has pride of place. Bt er... to my ever lasting shame I forgot to make a picture of it and I hope Linda will forgive me... I must admit I didn't make a lot of pictures. Anne doesn't really like it but is too polite to refuse a few and, I must admit, I also do not want to "play" the fawning fan who needs to register "every move she makes". I hope you all will understand. Trust me she loves the portraits and appreciates Linda's work and artistry as much as we do!

Then, Anne thought that was all but I said there was more and asked Anne if she remembered a certain young lady she met in Copenhagen, at Eurocon. I first got a bank look (not surpising as she is 85 after all) but when I said it was the one who presented her with the wooden dagger and the Pernese marks she remembered. Then I held a short speech about the play that probably had only ever been staged in the US and never in the UK and thus it had its UK premiere last December under the able directorhip of said Sara "Pernese marks" Slack. I then presented the items to her one by one. Everybody was full of praise for the poster (Gigi did remark the artist didn't get the eyes right for a Pernese dragon but that the artistry was amazing). I also remarked that I had already seen much of the show on DVD and presented her with her own copy of it. It wouldn't have surprised me if she watched soem of it later or the next day. The fact that there was some of Mike and Tania's music to be heard too made the poor, still jet lagged, musicians ears perk up too, with Mike proudly showing Tania the program a moment later, stating that they also had made the program

I the next photo Mike Freeman's reading the program I think, with Anne perusing the birthday wishes, Tania Opland "just leaving stage right" and my dear wife (she even has a nice backside) sipping sipping tea:



On the premise that no lady should be without chocolate on her birthday we also presented Anne and her daughter with little Delft blue bowls with Dutch chocolate.

The florists had done a great job in making the little rosebush presentable and that gave us the chance for the picture of the day:



Alright folks. I'm sorry there's only a few pics but you know how it goes, you sit down, have a great time with some gret eople and just forget about the pictures. I think this last one speaks volumes though!

Anne McCaffrey thanks you all!

[sjslack]

What kind words!

I'm thrilled that Anne had a wonderful birthday. It sounds like it was a really special event without the need to be overwhelmingly large.

THANK YOU Hans, both for presenting Anne with the 'Dragonsong' items, but also for taking the time to give us a glimpse into the special occasion. ^_^