Surprise Bash
Friday, September 02, 2005
Friday brought Joe’s surprise 17th birthday party. After having the Silverspoon & Hobcoggin boys, plus their sister, Aristotle George, the Buckle boys, Bluetooth Coca-Cola, Molly McCrae, Goofy Nickels, and Evrain Orange, Joe was brought upstairs with OLeif on the pretenses of helping Dad move propane tanks out of the van for the barbecue over the holiday weekend. Upon stepping out on the back patio, he was shocked to see the whole group jump out at him from the side of the house with many “Surprise!”’s and “Happy Birthday!”’s and much clapping. Joe was thoroughly surprised and picked up Shamrock to balance on his shoulders as he grinned big.
“I’m so confused,” he said, after a minute of congratulations.
But it was then off to the pool for a good swim as night came on and the lights flickered under the stars. Libby was doing very well, and showed Mom and Collette pictures of her new grandson by the light of a candle in the gazebo. She was also making plans to call the Red Cross and offer her home up for refugees from Louisiana and Mississippi in the horrific aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The storm had been the most devastating to ever strike the United States and the death count was rising.
Carrie was beyond angry at the chaos which had ensued, the rioting and shooting… and she had already submitted her application to travel down south and help, though she knew they wouldn’t take her on account of her age.
Collette had not realized the extent of the atrocity till Monday evening. She had remembered Pastor Hatch praying for those in the path of the hurricane during the service, Sunday morning. However, it was the first she had even heard of an approaching storm. She thought of President Bush and all the crisis he had dealt with as president over the past five years. And she prayed for those who were left with nothing. Stories and urgent requests for help were heard back and forth and everywhere during the week.
Meanwhile, upon returning to the house after the swim, the Tecumseh boys also showed up in time for the tikki torches to be lit under a ring of Italian street lights under the trees. And the music began to play as a colossal bonfire was lit and grilled hot dogs were loaded onto plates with iced-over sodas from the cooler.
In other news, Carrie and Rose had decorated the basement to Mom’s complete satisfaction. There was a print of Paris – the Eiffel Tower at night – for the wall, and a clock of the same theme. A black iron lamp of the Tower stood in the corner on an ancient plant stand, and several other knick knacks, such as new pillows and a chenille throw for the couch… Old mauve curtains hung in one corner on the wall, which was Carrie’s idea.
And Carrie had adjusted her own bedroom, decoratively-speaking. Collette had walked in Wednesday afternoon following the morning tutoring session, to find Carrie with a monkey wrench lying flat on her back underneath the top bunk.
“Whoa, what’s happening here?” Collette asked her.
“I’m taking apart the bunk,” Carrie said matter-of-factly. “I’m eighteen years old. I don’t need a bunk bed anymore.”
And with that, the bed was cut down to one level and in its place soon hung a great mirror on the wall next to a painted African mask with a long “yarnish” beard of sorts.
Such were the few things which had passed over that week, though some were far more vast in nature than others. Collette thought through many issues, and was thankful that God was watching and guiding everything. There were times of being overwhelmed, naturally, and that week had been one of them.