Rose Day

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Rose was twenty.

For the first time, in eleven years, Mom and Dad suddenly had only one teenager in the house. Until Rose turned thirteen in the fall.

To start the day, OLeif and Puck amused themselves chasing the ‘it’ around the backyard.

Then to the bank to notarize further documents, where Puck was given an orange safety sucker for ‘being so good’, the banker told him.

To the Silverspoon’s next where Collette caught only the last seconds of the Uruguayan team screaming victory over South Korea. Then Theodore got the barbecue ready before he and OLeif went out to hit FedEx. And Collette settled in for the US-Ghana match… which did not go so well.

After three, they joined the family and the grandmas, where Joe had just gotten on video chat to wish Rose a happy birthday and talk to everyone for awhile.

This was followed with pizza, a three-layer red velvet birthday cake made by Grandma Combs and loaded with sparkler candles, and gifts. From Joe, long distance, an “I Heart Bacon” bumper sticker, and from the family: a mint-shaded plaid Bedouin scarf, scuba pants, a vintage owl clock (just like Great Aunt Rebecca’s), and a subscription to an archaeology magazine. Then from Grandma Combs, a silver Celtic ring and cash.

After six, OLeif returned the dog and Puck back to the house, where the dog’s owner had been found, followed by a few tears from Puck, poor little guy. And Collette joined Grandma Combs, Mom, Carrie-Bri, and Rose to the Elvis concert at Jefferson Barracks.

The throngs were already camped out on the green below the stage under mild skies and stars. It was sort of like a Shakespeare for the blue collar crowd. But it was always a fun evening. And no one could match Steve Davis for Elvis impersonators. He managed to impress the crowd yet again, in both white jumpsuits and a stash of scarves to pass out to the audience as the crowd sat around with their citronella candles, light ropes, and beer.

The night came to a close after twelve.