Fabulous Family Festivity in Florida

A guest post by Dave and Betty (some of you may remember Tony / Anthony from our wedding):

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Here’s a little synopsis of the gathering precipitated by the high school graduation of Anthony (aka Tony) James Brown-Bergtold on May 23, 2009, in Melbourne, Florida. What follows could never express it all, of course, but … some ‘short-hand’ to help you follow along:

G-ma = Betty. G-pa = Dave (imagine that!); frequently referenced here as “G&G”. (This is also a great point at which to acknowledge all who helped make the trip possible for G&G. In addition to the condo, we had the use of one of the B-Bs vehicles. Between these blessings and our Frontier (sorry, Elizabeth) Card flier miles, and so many meals provided, we were there ‘on the cheap’ … and needed to be!! Thank you all!)
B-Bs = the Brown-Bergtolds: Brad, Wendy, Tony, Gabe, and Ethan. (Brad had the week of 5/20-27 off from Harris Corp., which was a real blessing for all. He had certainly earned it!)
RACC = the Crane/Browns: Ryan, Audrey, Clementine and Calliope. They flew from Durango.
J&C = Judy (Dave’s sister) and Charles Armstrong, reside in New Smyrna Beach, about 50 miles north of Indialantic.
Abi = Abi Mygatt Kelly, W’s friend since kindergarten. Abi flew in from Chicago.
Jennifer = Jennifer Mayan, W’s friend since eighth grade. Jennifer flew from Fort Collins.
Condo = very nice, roomy (grand master suite; second master with bath; third bedroom also with bath) second floor condo which RACC rented. About 2 miles from the B-Bs, it also had balconies with direct views of the Atlantic (about 100 yards away); a hot tub, lap pool and kiddie pool; private beach access; underground parking … see what I mean? RACC very generously invited G&G to stay with them. Worked wonderfully!

Just imagine, and put yourself in the midst …

Day one, Wednesday, 5/20: G&G checked into the condo and then dined on fried chicken, rather quietly, at the B-Bs. (RACC arrived in Orlando very late Wednesday night and opted to stay in Orlando until the next day.) Wednesday was very rainy. Turns out that the Indialantic area got 7-9 inches over 5/19-21. New Smyrna, where J&C live, got 16 inches over about the same period!

Have you ever seen Brussels sprouts growing?

Thursday: A reasonably lazy morning for G&G. Tony’s graduation rehearsal, slated for the Melbourne High football field, was rained out. We went with all of the B-B’s to meet J&C for lunch at Dixie Crossroads in Titusville. RACC came directly from Orlando. Dixie Crossroads is an old seafood place (specializing in rock shrimp) that we’ve all been to before. It was great food and great fun—and certainly never dull with all thirteen of us around one big table! Judy brought a stuffed animal menagerie for the small ones, and they greatly enjoyed getting to choose. W left a little early to pick up Jennifer at Orlando.
After the drive back we explored W’s vegetable garden - Have you ever seen Brussels sprouts growing? After naps, errands, etc., we all enjoyed dinner at the B-Bs: W fixed chili and cornbread for all. The evening was just plain old together time, talking and so on.

A patchwork of memories...

Friday: Rainy morning again, but grad rehearsal went forward. But by mid-day it was quite nice and we all had some very nice mid-day time at the beach, based from the condo. Did some prep and planning for graduation day and enjoyed dinner, again at the B-Bs. B grilled pork chops, fish, corn and shrimp-- yum-m-m-m-m!
Following dinner, G-pa read some verse he wrote (see last page of this little essay.) Then we presented Tony with his memory quilt-- a very well kept secret. W and G-ma started their conniving as early as April of 2008 (a good thing, too: we figure something akin to 1300-1400 hours went into the making). It was jointly designed by W and G&G, and made (almost exclusively) by G-ma. Jennifer, and Kristin Flores-- another long-time friend of W’s-- and Kathy Koulizos (family friend) helped with the tying in Fort Collins.

The front of the quilt


A detail of the front


The back of the quilt


A detail of the back

The quilt is reversible, 90 x 78 overall. The center squares are the fronts and backs of t-shirts (and one ‘tuxedo’ sleeper) that W had saved. The large border includes Tony’s hat and tee-shirt from birth and a square of his ‘blankie.’ Pictures from various ages, all of Tony’s schools and places he’s lived are also included, with respective labels (years, ages, etc.) on the reverses.
The front label strip carries hand-stitched name, birth date/place, adoption date/place, and graduation date/place. The back label strip is composed of hand-stitched hobby and interest words with ‘pict-o-graphs’ stitched in. The outermost border is ocean waves on one side and sand on the other.

It’s a wonderful, unique gift… well given and very well received all the way ‘round.

Maybe the fastest graduation ever?

Saturday (graduation day): Guess what? It’s raining like crazy (there was no contingency other than, “We may reschedule for later today in the gym (restricting admission).” The ceremony is to start at 9:00. B and G-pa went at 8:00 to save seats. At 8:40 the rain did stop (but there was no clearing) and they said: “Go.” The entry march started at 8:50; and all 525 grads were across the stage by 10:10. We (B, W, R, Abi, J, G&G) all got in on the appropriate yelling for Tony. (A kept C&C at the condo, while G&E were at Ms. Karen’s house.) Two (very good) student speeches were given after the roll call, and some group awards. A school official got about three minutes into his spiel and the rains came again. We’re done!
There was much activity in the afternoon to prepare for the open house at the B-B’s, starting at 4:00. Everyone had a job to do. The weather cleared up, which was a great help-- not so hot, and we could spill outdoors, which many did.
We met many of the B-B’s wonderful friends, and a few of Tony’s.
Later, R,A,W,B, Abi and Jennifer went ‘out’ for awhile, so G-ma sat with C&C at the condo and G-pa with G&E at the B-Bs. It was tough duty … well, actually, all four were ready and/or in bed by that time, so it was absolutely nothing at all!

Cousins Calliope and Ethan


Tony and buds

What’s next? And… “No tickle me!!”

Sunday: No one rushed anything, that’s for sure. At mid-morning, all came to the beach at the condo and all had a glorious time. Abi had to head back to Chicago ☹.
After naps, etc., it was back to the B-B’s for dinner (again!)…Thai take-out this time.
Tony opened his presents and gift cards after dinner. What a haul!!! And, since it’s a reasonable (and common) topic: T’s present plans are to work through the summer at the present surf shop position and/or others so that he can buy his own car. The fall will perhaps see him enrolled at Brevard Community College to take some classes and time to see where he really wants to head.

L to R: Abi, Jennifer, Wendy

Also much tickling babies (again), several of whom are extremely prone --particularly Ethan with his, “No tickle me!” as he exposed his tummy. Ah, well…

Monday: G&G had breakfast with RACC at the Blueberry Muffin Café, another known destination just a couple of blocks from the condo. RACC walked back to the condo via the beach. G-ma went to baby sit G&E while B, T and G-pa played (?) nine holes of golf. W took Jennifer on a ‘last’ ☹ grand tour before taking her to Orlando for her flight back to Fort Collins. R, A, W, & B went out for dinner and a movie (“Star Trek”), so poor old G&G had split “duty” again. Ah, well (again)...

“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand…” (Isa. 40:12)

Tuesday: Once all of our various acts were together, all loaded up and went to Sebastian Inlet, about 20 minutes south of Indialantic. This is a popular surfing and boogie-boarding beach, as the waves are often bigger due to the topography. It’s also a diverse bio area, including tide pools where the Indian River meets the Atlantic. The weather was glorious—bright sun, but not too hot.
Before our picnic lunch, we were all at the beach side. The ‘big boys’ (except for G-pa) worked on boogie boarding. (A had one great boogie run, too!! G-pa saw the whole thing!) Tony did some skim boarding, too. We looked for shells (a great place for that as well); and the little ones dared the surf, partially buried certain folks, and otherwise frolicked in the sand and with one another and G&G.
After a lunch in the shade, we walked the tide pools: crabs (mostly small), little fishes and much play. And: we were fortunate enough to stand in chest-deep water and pet manatees. That was so cool!

Dinner at the B-Bs was from Charlie and Jake’s B-B-Q, well known to B and G-pa. The non-carnivores in the troupe had a delicious Ahi tuna meal, courtesy of Audrey. (Tony was working ☹.)

Gabriel Brown-Bergtold, Paleontologist

Wednesday: All good things, they say, come to an end. But, we did not leave empty-hearted!! RACC left the condo at 7:30 a.m. to catch their Orlando/ Denver/ Durango flight. Since G&G left later, they were able to finish up some of the condo cleaning. G&G then got to accompany B&W to Gabe’s pre-K graduation: quite an event, with caps, gowns and the whole nine yards! All of the kids had posters and announced their plans. Gabe? Paleontologist. (He spent most of his beach time digging for dinosaur bones.)
This was followed by lunch at McDonald’s (at G’s request): all the B-B’s, G&G, and Amanda Simpson (Tony’s long-time ‘significant other,’ also a graduate, and whom G&G had met on several previous visits).
Then, alas, it was off to Orlando (chauffeured by W) to catch G&G’s flight. Probably the sole ‘down’ segment of the whole trip, as G&G sat on the tarmac for 70 minutes while an indicator light was checked. Since it was ‘indicating’ and shouldn’t have been, G&G were certainly glad it was fixed before taking off!

Our time with our loved ones could not have been better, so full of love and laughter, and tenderness. As Betty noted, there were times when it was overwhelming to the brink of tears. We are so thankful to the LORD for His favor and provision in ‘putting it all together,’ and to all of the kids for their sacrifices.


Dave's Graduation Poem for Tony

Look out world, ‘cuz here he comes …
Tony’s a grad, and that’s very cool.
This day marks a passage of sorts, to be sure,
Because as of now … you’re in life’s school.

It’s fitting, it’s right, that we honor the grad;
And celebrate with him his joys, and be glad.
But there is one other-- especially special,
Who’s very responsible for so much that he’s had.

Your mother, our daughter, made a choice years ago.
It gave you your life; and was a decision to grow.
It was a long-term commitment, not just for the moment;
And each day on the way, she’s proven it so.

No way that ‘just someone’ would care for this boy!
From the very beginning, your care’s been her goal.
Doreen’s was so special, and then Young People’s L. C.
She’s loved you so, Tony— mind, heart and soul.

From Baylor to Plum Street and points in between,
Then off to North Point, and then here to the sand.
Schools and their ratings were studied with care,
Only then she’d decide just where you would land.

A single mom can’t simply ‘watch it all happen.’
Sports, games and lessons, or just time to play;
Class schedules, work schedules; budgets and housing.
Her commitment to Tony has always held sway.

And, it’s also quite clear that it wasn’t ‘just’ love
That tightened the knot with Wendy and Brad:
But also her knowing Brad could truthfully say:
“Yes, sure! I’ll do it … I’ll be Tony’s dad.”

So today marks a passage, not for Tony alone,
But also for Wendy, with devotion and care.
You’re a winner today, Tony; but it would not be so,
If not for your mother, who has always been there.