May 1

Saturday, May 1, 2010

After bringing Puck over to the Silverspoon’s, who were just back from travel in Texas, OLeif and Collette left for CHI for their first parent education seminar.

The skies were still overtly gray. And two and a half hours of informative sessions regarding developmental issues and infectious diseases passed quickly in the conference center. Present were: another family adopting from Colombia, one from China, one from Russia, another from Ethiopia, and one from Rwanda, the future dad already dressed in an open-sleeved shirt that may very well have come from the same country.

Afterwards, OLeif and Collette made a quick pass by Rosciglione’s Bakery for a box of cannolis. Another weakness in the list of Collette’s multiplying vices throughout the years.

The afternoon brought back sunlight, in all its topaz shine.

Theodore and OLeif smoked cigars on the deck while Collette and Puck played in the yard for awhile. Puck muddied up his shoes very nicely. He came inside for a slice of chocolate cake, iced, with sprinkles. Then he sat next to OLeif on the couch and pretended to read the funnies, holding up the huge paper with both hands, with his bare piggies sticking out from beneath it.

“You read the funny pa-per, Daddy?” he asked.

And Izzy returned from the Hungary car wash and then out to mow the lawn.

The evening called for a scrub-down in the bathtub for Puck and his eternal favorite, Little Bear, while OLeif and Theodore discussed business.

Puck was also given a parting treat of a box of fat strawberries from Gloria, who had just returned from Aldi.

On the way home, the entire horizon was a washed spread of deep blue cloud.

And there was a cold root beer to split over Young Victoria that night.