Baby Rye

Friday, April 16, 2010

Back at the house for the day, and news had come in that Baby Rye had been born earlier that morning, weighing in at 8 pounds, 9 ounces. It was a collectively proud day for the congregation of Grace Presbyterian Church. Another April 16^th birthday. Curly was turning 20 down in Nashville.

For the rest of the day…

1. Collette rode with Francis to the library to help him research ancient Israel. This was a bust. Somehow the library didn’t seem to have anything at all, so…

2. Back to the house where Collette and Puck accompanied Mom to the store for groceries and geraniums where they ran into Grandma Hobcoggin, picking up ingredients for white chili… Then…

3. Back to the house to pick up Francis, a swing-by for lunch, and out to Illinois to pick up Linnea who had spent the night with a friend from Classical Conversations. And…

4. Back to the house again to prepare for that evening’s viewing of Kung Fu Panda for the new youth program: Movies for Missions.

Meanwhile, pictures of baby Rye had come back from the hospital. Collette had to admit that, for a newborn, he was a good-looking tike. Although she considered giving Judah a little return flack for calling Puck ‘Yoda’ the first time he had seen him…

The late afternoon had turned a sudden chill.

On the ride back from Illinois, the rain had already begun to fall. And continued, slight, as they crossed the river as Puck called out happily, ‘The St. Loo-liss Arch!”

And back home, where Joe was packing to leave for his school canoeing-camping weekend. And there was enough time for algebra and dinner in the cool gray before departing for church.

The barn was already set. A sheet had been hung on the wall between the windows looking over the old field. And in each window, Mom had set a small lamp from home.

Francis, Creole, and Puff ‘o Lump, after looking over the projector and speakers, etc., lit out for a few rounds of frisbee, later joined by Linnea, the Plum kids, and Henri. Collette sat on the farmhouse porch for awhile with Puck while they waited for seven o’clock. It had been a couple of years since she had been up there. A good place for a survey of the church land and the wind.

OLeif and Rose arrived from a carpool back from work shortly later, as did Grandma Combs, always up for a bit of fun.

Then back inside where Mom had already started up the popcorn popper cart and the youth were preparing chilled sodas while the guests arrived with folding chairs, blankets, and pillows. And Rose and Puck snuggled up together in a couple of fuzzy blankets and Puck’s aviator headphones (for scenes of a louder nature).

After Hansel introduced the feature film, and the tape began to roll, just under 50 people had gathered behind the screen. A nice success for a first night.

A good day for Baby Rye to be introduced to the world.