Feasts and Games

Sunday was busy. After a semi-successful sit-through church for Puck, who was busy eating through his second box of Alamo crackers (shortbread cookies) since his grandma’s return from Texas, it was time to join the girls back at the house. Mom was suffering from a slightly embarrassing case of poison ivy around the eye. Although it was not as bad a situation as it had been a number of years earlier, she preferred to stay at home for the morning to let it recede.
After services, everyone gathered around the table for a brunch of egg and cheese casserole, hashed browns, honey dew melon, and giant black grapes. Then Mom and Joe took off to pick up Francis from his OA weekend camp at church while OLeif and Collette departed for downtown to watch Cardinals vs. Marlins.
The game was good. Bottom of the first, Pujols hit a homer bringing the score to two, zero. The baseball tickets, another Christmas present from Grandma Combs, had included a free hot dog and soda apiece. Collette watched the scene below as she had the fall before – cool breezes, red, and enthusiastic.
As though she was back in the Roman days above the games and the crowds, below the open skies.
Back at the house, it was time to officially celebrate Joe’s 20th birthday. This meant a trip to Outback Steakhouse. Puck enjoyed his first time in a restaurant while able to eat adult food.
He didn’t hold back – bloomin’ onion, pumpernickel bread, and tastes from OLeif’s platter: the Alice Springs Chicken and Ribs on the Barbie combo, which included Auzzie fries, of course. He was plumply stuffed.
And Joe was finally ushered into his 21st year.