Celebration #2

It was a two-car day. El Oso sent me a text as I took my seat in Sunday School. A Puck-quote for the morning:

“Do you remember that Irish movie where they got married? I didn’t like that much. But I did like when they got punched. I like movies where people get punched. I like the sound it makes.”

(“The Quiet Man”)

Carrie-Bri had grilled cheese and tomato soup waiting for the masses upon a late return from a congregational meeting at church. Because we were celebrating my birthday five days early. As we waited for the group to gather, the kids discussed the recent Hunger Games.

“So, Joe, what team are you on? Team Gale or Team Peeta, huh?”

“Yeah, Joe, which one are you on?”

“Gale’s a wimp.”

“Peeta’s worthless.”

“Dad’s on Team Peeta.”

“Yeah, Dad’s on Team Peeta.”

Dad raised a skeptical eyebrow as he entered the kitchen. “I told you that I wasn’t on any team.”

Unless it’s the Luther Snicketts Team, of course.

When Mom returned from her traditional Lafayette Square House Tour with Mrs. O, we continued the celebrating. This included a lit candle stuck in the middle of a fat pan of Reeses peanut butter cup fudge. Handmade of course.

Then gifts: an equally plump check to be used for Cards tickets next season. Sparkly red nail polish; (the things I never would have used at ten, and now do at thirty). And then – after nine years of the old orange book book falling apart at every seam – a brand new cardinal-red upgrade.

“So high end!” Carrie added. (All those “Kath & Kim” days.)

Attached: plush red orangutang. Puck claimed that one. Fine by me. I don’t like monkeys. Anyway, I definitely raked it in.

As Joe and Jaya made their departure for the evening to see more family, and El Oso left for another Christmas concert where he violined and mandolined, everyone else piled into the Joy Bus for a Christmas lights drive through Old St. Charles. This usually involves conversation something like this…

“Luther! Slow down! I want to see inside the windows!”

“I am driving slow, Adel. I’m already going under 25.”

“Grandpa?! Can you turn up the music?!”

“That house looks like junk.”

“Oooh. I like that one.”

“Luther! Go slower!”