Linnea Turns Ten

Sunday, October 7, 2007

Sunday morning woke Collette with a bag of chocolate mini donuts – OLeif’s way of sneaking around the grocery budget while tacking on miscellaneous snacks to the fuel bill at the gas station. Smart cookie. (Although Collette admittedly sometimes encouraged him in this quest.)

Sunday School was the usual gathering of youngsters and two seniors (Susie and Rose). A lesson on Buddhism, Part 2.

This was followed with a birthday bash for Linnea’s big number 10. The first half of the celebration was around the lunch table after Puck (who was more interested in learning how to escape from his bouncy those days, and untying his shoelaces) had been put down for a much-welcomed nap. The little fella was still tuckered from the previous days’ activities.

And, as with youth gatherings, lunch ran somewhat like a script:

Carrie: “Did I tell you what I did at work the other day? I put on a toga and a laurel leaf crown and walked out onto the floor. People were looking at me like, ‘Wha?’ But they were so drunk anyway that they must have thought they were hallucinating and the bar wasn’t as busy after that…”

Dad: “Some of these guys in Denver were into Fung Shui. It’s a little bizarre. They had to have the vending machines arranged in a certain way.”

Carrie: “Yeah, like you can only have nine goldfish in a tank. And they say you can’t have a bedroom above the kitchen because the heat rising will make you fight more.”

OLeif: “It was a fad a few years ago.”

Carrie: “Yeah, it does not work. Rose, you’re such a pig.”

Rose: “Hey, you took just as much as I did.”

[The macaroni bowl was looking a little lean.]

Carrie: “What about your diet?”

Rose: “I’m going to turn this fat into muscle.”

[Rose pointed at her macaroni.]

Carrie: “That’s ridiculous, Rose. You can’t turn fat into muscle.”

Rose: “Can too.”

Dad: “OK, girls. Time to pray.”

[After the blessing, conversations ran around each other, as always:]

Frances: “We’re learning how to throw tomahawks at camp outs.”

OLeif: “Awesome, man.”

Dad: “So Mr. Milk doesn’t have his long hair anymore, I noticed.”

Carrie: “Yeah, I think he thought he was Beethoven for awhile or something. He does take piano lessons, actually – at Columns.”

[Further comment was made on the subject.]

Dad: “Adel, it’s been years since these kids have been to the dentist. We need to get them in for appointments.”

Carrie: “Yeah, I stopped going to the dentist when they quit handing out glow-in-the-dark snakes.”

Mom: “So the Englishs are really into this Geocache.”

Dad: “What’s that?”

Mom: “It’s kind of like a treasure hunt.”

Carrie: “Yeah, like that fairy tale book that I tried to solve for weeks. And then some NASA scientist beat me to it and got the twenty-six million dollars.”

Linnea, as usual, didn’t say a word throughout the entire meal. But soon the brownies were paraded out with ten candles and she smiled big. Poof – they were out and it was time to open cards and gifts which included a check, a ten dollar bill, a Nancy Drew computer game (from OLeif, Collette, and Puck), a new Webkinz frog and charms, and roller blades.

Phase two of the birthday commenced after Dad, Mom, and Puck had finished their Sunday afternoon naps. On it was to Forest Park where Linnea’s request had been granted: the Boathouse. Dad, Carrie, and Puck sat in the park while Dad helped Carrie with her homework. Mom, Frances, and Linnea took one paddle boat, OLeif, Collette, and Rose another, and Joe sat himself in a one-man kayak.

They spent the following hour scooting around the waterways, digging paddles into the black muck below (after Collette had seen a silver coin under the silt of the shallows), hunting for any valuables, occasionally ramming one another, skirting the fountains, and taking pictures with Rose’s camera.

It was another warm afternoon. The sun glared heavily off the pond. But the reeds and bushes rustled in the breezes. And the ancient trees shadowed the waters around the islands and inlets. Green bubbles of algae hid turtles from the roving eye of Rose who often called aloud:

“Turtle head! I see a turtle head!”

Joe chased the ducks around the pond.

“He’s herding him,” OLeif laughed.

A volley of obnoxious quacks echoed across the pond where Joe had given the chase a rest.

“They’re laughing it me!” He said.

Dinner followed at a table outside the restaurant as the rosy sun set. Tikki torches lit the dock. Ancient fans oscillated above the tables near the lanterns, and small oil lamp glasses flickered on their tables. It was brisket, salads, fish, pizza, ribs, burgers, and grilled cheese for everyone on red, green, and blue ceramic dishes.

Puck danced to the music and giggled, making numerous attempts to grab Collette’s soda glass as it passed by his outstretched arms. When nothing else was in reach, he pounded his hands on the table and waited to see if any scraps might come his way, despite the fact that he was full from dinner and his bottle.

Linnea fed the ducks some of her fries at the dock and returned for more.

“I found a giant catfish! I’ve been feeding him. I’ve created a monster!”

The evening ended after sunset.