Lady Edna's Special, Surprise Birthday Party

Lady Edna thought she was celebrating her 91st birthday with her family. She walked into a downtown McLean restaurant Monday and was greeted with applause and 40 friends and family members wishing her a happy birthday.

"I wanted to cry," she said later. "I was just flabbergasted. I thought I was having lunch with family."

This is a story about more than a birthday party. It's about mothers and daughters. About parents moving to be near children who can care for them. It's about a community surrounding a new member.

Edna Loop, born in Connecticut, was quickly whisked off to California by her parents.  She left her home in California and moved to McLean four years ago. She came to live with her daughter and her son-in-law,  Carole Herrick and her husband Philip Herrick, a real estate investor who serves on the board of Chain Bridge Bank.

"It's hard when you move from one locale," Carole said yesterday happily looking over her mother's festive party that she had managed to keep a surprise. "Everyone has been fabulous to her."

Carole  organized the party because  "When you are 91-year-old you deserve a party. You've got your health. You've paid your dues. Everyone here is someone who made my mom feel welcome in McLean."

Carole is a member of The Office, a shifting group of retirees that convenes daily at Greenberry's coffee shop in downtown, for an hour of coffee, companionship, and compassion. She introduced them to Lady Edna. It was friendship at first sight.

Now she's a regular, coming often without her daughter. Members of "The Office" made up many of yesterday's birthday guests.

"She so delightful and I was honored to be invited," said K. K. Piper, an Office regular. "She's such an inspiration. She's 91 and still partying."

Mary Ludden said, "She's a real add to the group. She has great perspective because she's 30 years our senior but she's still so upbeat." And there's the sense of humor.

Wearing her pink rose corsage and walking with her cane, Lady Edna visited each table in the dining room of the House of Fortune restaurant thanking her friends for coming.

She also greeted another birthday girl Susan Christie, of McLean, and another "Office" member.

For about two hours, the group feasted on plate-fulls of Chinese food, exchanged stories and greeted Howard "Gammy" Gamertsfelder, who turns 91 in June. Gammy has been sick, and we were worried about him, but yesterday he looked wonderful and came with his daughter and granddaughter.

As the crowd of friends began to leave Carole was well pleased. "It's a big thing for seniors to move. Everyone has made her feel welcome. They have incorporated her into their lives."

Lady Edna belongs to the Lewinsville Senior Center and a volunteer group at the McLean Community Center.

"It's a warm community," said daughter Carole.

Jack High, a long-time McLean resident, who founded The Office to make folks feel welcome and give them a pathway to camraderie in the retirement years, would  agree. It's a warm community.