Mothers Day 2026

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Character Blog of the Dorchester Sisters Series

It was a beautiful May day in Omaha, Nebraska. It was spring and a lovely day, crystal blue sky, with a breeze that was tickling the tops of full blooming daffodils and the iris who were just pushing their buds toward the sun. It made the gardens look lovely. Karen Dorchester had invited her best friend, Georgia Palmer and their friend Connie Michelson for brunch to celebrate Mother’s Day. It was a rare opportunity and she absolutely planned to capitalize on it.

Connie was the wife of the Dorchester Security System pilot and they had been friends for many years but time for the three of them to spend together had been scarce, since Mark, their youngest had started college. Keith was often flying for DSS, which had left Connie free to take more work on location for her company, Uberti Engineering Disaster Investigations.

She was a structural engineer and had worked for the Ubertis’ since graduating and passing her licensing exams. Keith and Georgia’s husband, Col. Harrison Palmer, Retired, had known each other during the tours in the US Air Force. When Harrison had learned that Keith was looking to retire, he had recommended him to Thomas for DSS. It was a perfect fit. That change had connected the women and the three women had quickly become great friends. They treasured each other and their time together.

“Good morning, my friends…” Karen Dorchester said as she opened the door and admitted them into her home.

“Good morning,” Georgia and then Connie responded as they were ushered into the enclosed patio that she referred to as the “Garden Room” and toward the table set with crystal, china and sparkling silver. The arrangement glimmering and twinkling in the mid-day sun streaming through the windows.

“I’m so glad you could both come. I was so excited to think that we’d all be available to just sit, talk and catchup after the last few months.” Karen said to her friends as they were all seated and she began asking for their drink preferences and serving her guests. As usual, it was Sun tea with lemon and lime slices over tons of ice. They all loved it, the only difference was who drank it with and without sugar or sweetener.

“I missed you guys! I love being able to be onsite more but I miss brunch with you two!” Connie said, as she reached for her tea glass. “Ummmm, Karen, no one makes sun tea like this and it is always welcome.”

“Thank you! We miss you too, but we are so glad you are getting to be closer to the projects you are collaborating on. How are the Uberti’s?”

“They are well, Marciello said to pass along his regards next time I saw you or your spouses. And you are right, I love being able to be in the disaster. I can look at photos all day from home, read reports and evaluate collected data but there is nothing like being in my boots, jeans, gloves and hard hat and seeing it myself. It makes a huge difference in my ability to provide more context to the projects objective.”

“Your face shines when you talk about it! It takes a special kind of dedication and calling to glow when you are talking about evaluating a structural disaster.” Georgia said with a smile.

“Thank you! It’s about finding the cause. I love figuring out what happened so it never occurs again. If you don’t accurately diagnose the failure you can’t appropriately provide resolution instructions for a preventative cure. With each collapse there is always a reason, I just have to know the answer to that question and being on site makes a huge difference in my ability to contribute fully with the Uberti team.”

“We’re so glad you’re out there doing the work. Not everyone has such a passion for it and that makes a difference, even though we miss you here.” Georgia said with a smile.

“Well, I couldn’t go anywhere if you guys didn’t watch our house, and feed the cat. With the kids gone and Keith flying someplace so often, it would never work without great friends.” Connie said.

Karen looked at her friends, the simple joy of brunch together, it had always been this way with the three of them. “Connie, how are the kids? How is Mark doing in college? That first year is always interesting.” She said as she rose to bring in the chefs salads and the bowls of cold gazpacho style tomato based soup, and sat it on the table.

“Can we help?” They both asked.

“No, I just thought we would eat soup and salad together, somehow I like them that way, with crusty sourdough ” Karen said as she seated herself again and began passing the sourdough rolls, avocado and sour cream for the soup and a silver sever with a selection of dressings for the salad.

”It looks fabulous,” Connie said, “I haven’t had gazpacho in years and I love it.”

“Karen, is this the recipe you picked up on vacation a couple years ago? The one where you asked to see the chef for it?” Georgia asked.

“It is, well I tweaked it a little, chefs choice….let me know what you think.” She said we with a smile. “Oh, I made us a lemon meringue pie for dessert. I thought it would be the perfect spring ending.”

Georgia smiled, “And you know it’s my favorite.”

“Well, there is that.” Karen started laughing. I’m so glad we’re getting to spend today together. With Mother’s Day tomorrow, I wanted to celebrate two of the best moms that I know and their beautiful families. Happy Mother’s Day!” She said as she lifted her tea glass in acknowledgment.

Georgia smiled, “Thank you, Karen but your a great mom too and we love having this time together. It’s always such a pleasure to hang out and especially since Connie is home!”

“Can you believe the journey we have all been on, the twist and turns that it has taken us on, the friends we’ve met, and the fun we’ve had? It’s a prettt remarkable adventure.” Connie said.

“When you think about our husbands and our kids, you had to know it was going to be non-stop. Non-stop what, has always been the question. As teens and young adults it was their friends, occupations and as adults I thought it would be calmer but it hasn’t worked out that way. It seems to have brought more unknowns. Through it all, I’m honored to have you as my friends and backup. And now as grandparents, the adventure continues.” Karen said.

Georgia reached into her hand bag and brought out three envelopes, and handed them to her friends, keeping one for herself. “I thought we might need something to mark the anniversary of the last of the kids having started college and no one is currently in danger that we know of!” Her friends busted out laughing. It’s seemed to rotate between what child or husband found trouble next. “Open them!” She said gesturing to open the envelopes.

“Georgia, they are gorgeous! These are beautiful charm bracelets and charms.” Connie said, holding them up and admiring the charms already placed on the 14 Kt white and gold colored gold bracelets.

“I thought that we needed to be able to mark the events of our lives and friendship without having to change jewelry.” She said.

Karen’s sat puzzled, Grandma, charms hung on just her and Georgia’s / that charm had been left in the envelope for Connie. Her oldest was a couple of years younger than their kids and Elizabeth, their oldest had only been married a year.

“Is there a method to adding charms? Does it go to the jeweler?” Connie asked, holding her Grandma charm next to a link.

Then it dawned on both Karen and Georgia, there was a secret that was being released. “Is this about a new baby?” Georgia asked.

“Oh yes, Elizabeth and her husband called yesterday, they are so excited. Their bundle will arrive around Halloween! And shhhhh….Keith doesn’t know yet.”

“Congratulations!!!!” Echoed across the table as the three celebrated the news but also the future over lunch and then dessert!

Hours later, Karen Dorchester looked at her friends and over fresh glasses of tea, she simply said, “Happy Mother’s Day! To the best friends anywhere.” The smile on their faces told the story!

Happy Mother’d Day to all the mothers out there.

From a mother and a grandmother I wish you Happy Mother's Day,

M. G.