Puck Turns Three
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Puck started his birthday morning at 5:45, wondering over the marvel of having awoken in a brand new bed.
Before leaving for church, he opened his birthday cards from both great-grandmas and another card from Grandpa Snicketts. Then his gift from OLeif and Collette: the Jesus Story Bible.
Then to the St. Louis Bread Company for a souffle apiece for OLeif and Collette. And Puck picked out a blueberry bagel for himself and a box of organic apple juice. Not a bad start for a big birthday.
Following services, in which little Opal Redcoat was baptized at six months of age, OLeif, Collette, and Puck drove out to visit Judah, Evangeline, and little Hesed.
He was a bright-eyed one. The dark blue eyes took in everything under a crown of dark hair.
“Go to your Aunt Collette,” said Judah, passing him carefully to her.
He laid in her arms for awhile, watching the ceiling and chewing occasionally on his little mitts. And then there were some tears when he became too warm. But after Judah swaddled him, he calmed quickly, and fell asleep.
He was a great little fellow. The little Rye family was off to a good start.
Back home, it was nearly time to begin the birthday festivities.
But first… while Collette proctored Rose’s final mathematics exam, Rose was occasionally distracted by a rousing argument with Linnea regarding ancient history.
“Rose, tell me about the split of the Roman empire.”
“There was no split in the Roman empire, you door knob. Who were the Roman gods?”
“I’ll tell you…”
“No. Those were the Greek gods. The Romans just changed their names.”
And the absurdity continued for a time…
Then both grandmas had arrived. So everyone spilled outside around the little fire, because the air had a chill in it. Puck played with his new bat and baseball from Grandma Combs with Linnea, while Joe, Francis, and Rose played some high-powered frisbee until one ricocheted a little too close to the grandmas chatting by the fire, and they were sent into the field.
Meanwhile, Puck marched around in a giant birthday hat (saved from Rose’s 16th birthday), until dinner was served: pork chops (grilled by Dad) and barbecue, a cheese-rice casserole from Grandma Combs, a pasta dish, and fruit.
After everyone had their fill, they retired indoors for ice cream cake. Puck sat next to the spinning, musical candle contraption which Grandma Combs had brought, and grinned. Then he chowed straight through his piece of ice cream cake.
Then adjourning to the living room for gifts as the last course of the evening. Puck raked it in: a pile of books and Mr. Rogers and Magic School Bus DVDs from the family, a set of Lincoln Logs from Rose, a miniature red ‘Tardis’, a sonic screwdriver set, and a shadow-book story-book from Grandma Combs, and then a little desk and chair from the family. Puck could hardly stand the excitement and examined all of his gifts, back and forth between all of them. It was a bountiful birthday.
And a very happy, sleepy, ice-cream filled Puck snuggled quickly into his new bed for the night.
Good day.