"Lady Edna" Celebrates Her 92nd Birthday

"Lady" Edna Loop's birthday, her 92nd, was April 4 and she's been celebrating ever since.

"I've been doing this since April 4," she said Friday at a birthday celebration organized by her friends at Greenberry's, a very popular downtown McLean coffee shop. "Every day someone has been doing something nice for me," she said.

Edna Loop is a member of The Office, a shifting group of fun-loving retirees who convene daily at Greenberry's for an hour of coffee, companionship, and compassion.

More than a dozen Office members gathered mid-morning Friday to help her celebrate her day. Everyone  affectionately calls her "Lady Edna."

"We have to honor Lady Edna," said Pam Hall. "Edna is such an exemplary lady. She's such a nice person."

Edna Loop, born in Connecticut, was quickly whisked off to California by her parents.  She left her home in California and moved to McLean five years ago.

She came to live with her daughter and son-in-law, McLean historian Carole Herrick and her husband Philip Herrick, a real estate investor who serves on the board of Chain Bridge Bank.

Her daughter introduced her mother to The Office. It was friendship at first sight.

"McLean has been very open and friendly to my mother," Herrick said.

She said that often it's difficult for parents to move and establish new friends. She praised her Mom for her active lifestyle, her friendliness and the warmth offered by McLean.

Basking in the affection, gifts, cards  and cake from  her friends, Lady Edna, smiled and said "I hope they can afford me when I'm 93."