Return from Paradise

Dad got the handmade black sheepskin gloves. Mom, a shawl of woven dark orange wool. Carrie sent OLeif’s gift back with Collette – a gaucho pipe. There were three tiny silver ear clips which Collette, Carrie, and Rose would share. Rose immediately took the angry fish clip, which left Carrie with the octopus, and Collette with the fish bone. Yes, wearing it made Collette feel exotic. Collette was also given an antique book dated 1913, printed in Paris, on the Eucharist.

“They said that that book is rare,” Carrie explained. “Because the community is so Jewish in Uruguay, Catholic items are not as common.”

Carrie also brought out a bag of currency for Collette to add to her collection. Carrie had bought for herself a leather maté bag, which was very unique.

“And, Ferraris are very big down there,” Carrie told Joe, “So…”

A black tee with “Ferrari” printed across the front and the emblem on the back.

“That’s amazing!” Joe said.

Frances and Linnea were psyched upon opening their gifts – little knives in leather pouches from Argentina. They immediately set about to sharpening them.

“And Puck gets the most, of course,” Carrie grinned.

A tiny set of panpipes, baby sheepskin mittens (snug, cozy, and warm), and a woven woolen poncho. Puck wore this for part of the morning, which he loved.

Then came out a treat for all to share – a treat native to Uruguay – cookie sandwiches. Made of two cookie biscuits filled with thick caramel paste and either spread with white or dark chocolate or rolled in white meringue pieces. Oddly mildly sweet, they were very good and came in different varieties.

“I’d say the Uruguayans eat about one of these a day,” said Carrie.

Then it was time for pictures and videos, stories, and the journal. The tales Carrie had to tell. She and Elizabeth had been princesses there. For several days in Montevideo they had been swarmed with eager fellows who applauded them, praised them, sang to them, and danced for them. The effect of such monstrosities had been overwhelming, all related via video and journal entries.

“I don’t get it,” Carrie said. “We had guys waiting in lines to have their picture taken with us. One guy told all the others that he was my husband so that he could butt ahead in line.”

But the stories could only best be told in Carrie’s humorous way, and were forever recorded in her journal, which she dictated to Collette for most of the day.

Meanwhile, Puck was happy to see his Aunt Carrie again and stuck his tongue out at her in gleeful baby giggles. Then he took a snooze in Joe’s room, waking up to more fun, watching the disco ball reflect revolving flashes on the walls in hypnotized wonderment.

Soon, most everyone scattered. Rose to work and then to class. Joe to class…

“Mom,” he said, walking out the door, “Frances is watching the stock reports downstairs. You should probably have him turn off the TV and come upstairs now.”

Mom, Frances, and Linnea to the vet with all three animals. What a joy ride that must have been.

By the time Collette and Puck had returned home under velvet blue skies and gold trees, OLeif was coming back from his last day of work that week. He was headed down to Nashville early the following morning with Curly, who had an audition at Belmont.