Large Gatherings

Sunday, April 8, 2007

Collette woke up that morning to the sound of hip-hopping tunes from the 80’s and 90’s. OLeif had changed the alarm clock from the Classical station the night before. What a way to be roused on Easter morning. It even woke up OLeif, which was a feat in and of itself at five-thirty in the morning.

So with a bowl of chocolate pudding for breakfast – an even better way to start the day – and a burst of golden light from a new sun, OLeif and Collette were off for a long day of Easter festivities.

While dropping off Collette at the house, OLeif picked up Carrie’s cello, her frayed seven-dollar cello bow (on which Snuggles had chewed), and her embarrassing cello case. Apparently Bing had left his cello at Subway that week and needed Carrie’s to play for the service at Memorial that morning.

Meanwhile, things were a bit cut up as far as worship in the morning hours was concerned. OLeif was off downtown to Memorial Presbyterian by eight-thirty to play at the morning service. Carrie-Bri had been called into work until three in the afternoon. Collette decided to attend Grace so as not to be carted downtown for the morning hours. Dad ushered and Mom and Francis were in the nursery.

Worship carried on that morning surrounded by a cloud of white lilies, one of which was Linnea’s, having given it in honor of baby. The choir sang in white robes, Idlewild played hand bells, and The Hallelujah Chorus was as slow as molasses.

After the service, little Juliet Pie walked up to Collette. Once again, she looked as though she was about to say something but couldn’t decide whether or not to actually say it. Collette tried to help her.

“Hi Juliet? How are you today?”

“Good…” Juliet decided she was going to say it. “Every time I see your big belly, I think you ate too much.”

Collette laughed, “That would be a lot of food, wouldn’t it?”

And then Juliet went on her merry way.

The afternoon brought a gathering of 25 people at the house: aside from the Snicketts and OLeif and Collette, there was Grandma Snicketts, Grandma Combs, the four Combs and Uncle Larry (Uncle Bob was in D.C. of course), the rest of the Hobcoggins, and the Silverspoons. Later in the evening, Lolli also dropped by, having been experiencing a rather boring afternoon while her dad did her mom’s taxes. The only one missing from the gathering was Uncle Mo who was feeling quite ill that day.

There was the usual hefty spread, this time with ham, turkey, lasagna, potato casserole, macaroni and cheese, salad and rolls, and desserts. An Easter egg hunt commenced right before dinner. Music, Pasanka eggs, airsofting, and Donald Duck for later in the evening…