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 According to her mom Nikki, Elayna was really
missing school and all her friends and with a party not possible,
the next best thing was to see if people were willing to get out of
the house long enough to just drive by the Marten house and honk,
wave and wish Elayna a happy birthday.
Indeed they were.
At 6 p.m. on Monday, March 23rd a birthday caravan surprised Elayna
as she was shooting baskets out in the driveway. Her mom recorded
the vehicles driving by and counted 35 cars and 90 people, all who
were just as excited as Elayna to be out of the house and spreading
cheer.
Elayna Marten getting in some hoops
Elayna Marten gets a drive-by greeting from her cousins
No hugs, but big wishes in the new covid style greetings [to top of second
column] |
Elayna Marten and her
gifts Among the gifts Elayna received
from a distance were a rose from her boyfriend, a giant jar of
pickles from a good friend, tons of signs from birthday caravan
participants, and a lady Elayna didn’t even know drove all the way
from Chestnut to give her balloons and a gift. Elayna’s volleyball
coach, Donna Dulle, and her husband Ron even drove from Bloomington
to give her a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookie bars. Elayna’s
grandma Patty Schaffenacker also made some of her famous cupcakes.
Elayna never stopped smiling as car after car went around
Lamplighter Circle with horns honking.
“She was thrilled and felt so loved,” said her mom.
A birthday she will never forget!
[Teena Lowery with photos by Nikki Marten]
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