Early Birthday
Sunday, August 30, 2009
The family was celebrating Joe’s birthday a few days early.
After everyone had returned from their services, they gathered around the table for chicken parmesan, Mom’s special homemade macaroni and cheese, and a glass pan of quadruple chocolate brownies.
Then presents were opened around the table.
Joe unwrapped a ‘preview’ present, a book of short stories from Collette. The rest would be opened on his actual birthday.
And then Rose plopped a giant basket of gifts in front of OLeif and Collette for their combined anniversary and birthday gifts.
When everything had been fully unwrapped, the trove included:
Four etched water glasses in different colors.
A woven square placemat/charger.
Two bottles of Iceland spring water.
Two bottles of sparkling apple cider.
A hand-painted ceramic dessert dish from Lisbon.
A tiny cheese knife and fork with curled handles.
A large sandalwood candle.
A bar of chili chocolate.
A bar of bacon chocolate.
A chunk of smoked Gouda.
And a chunk of Wisconsin cheddar.
And then Magnus’ contribution to the collection, via suggestion: a stuffed two-sided dragon-cat in bright red corduroy and rose silk.
There was the usual chatter and funny stories during the meal.
“It sounded like someone was practicing the tuba downstairs during the service today,” said Rose. “And then Carrie thought it was my phone on vibrate, so she asked if I had turned it off… And then Pastor Wintershine started laughing in the pew in front of us…”
There was always something humorous going on at that church.
After lunch, in the living room, Carrie-Bri and Joe argued at length about super cars while Linnea practiced bridges on the floor. OLeif doodled in Joe’s moleskin. Rose read The Fellowship of the Ring. And Mom and Dad cleaned up the kitchen together, their Sunday afternoon tradition.
Later in the afternoon, after everyone had woken from naps, etc., they piled into the minivan and the red car and drove out to Klondike Park.
It was a beautiful day.
Cool.
Gray.
More like fall than any other day had been that year.
So they all walked along together through the white sands and the paths, the biking trails, past the cabins in the woods…
And then to Silky’s.
Custard for everyone, and almonds and pretzels for Puck. Collette ordered the Elvis Pretzley at Dad’s recommendation: vanilla custard, pretzels, chocolate, and caramel.
They shivered in the cool afternoon winds, laughing, and eating custard, until it was time to go.
On the way home in the cool gray, OLeif and Collette sang Puck his favorite tunes, including:
Waltzing Matilda
Abide with Me
and
Tonight, You Belong to Me
Later that evening, Joe, Magnus, and Rose came over for technological forms of entertainment, drawings, etc.