The First Game
Saturday, January 8, 2011
In good news, it had been three months since Carrie’s initial ‘collapse’ due to adrenal failure, and her recovery was coming along well. She had attended her monthly nutritionalist appointment that morning as usual, where Gloria, Theodore, and OLeif had already had theirs as well. News was good for her. Although OLeif’s little pal, being weakened, was still in business.
The morning was sun and bitter cold. Fourteen degrees Fahrenheit on the digital clock outside the funeral home on Mid Rivers.
Meanwhile, Collette and Puck were off to Linnea’s and Eleda’s 11:00 basketball game.
It was an embarrassingly smashing win. Collette could only guess, because the scoreboard seemed to be broken, but the score could easily have been over 50 to, perhaps 10. It was a basketball miracle. Linnea scored around four or five baskets herself, being a bit of a rocket on the court in her cherry red Chucks.
“It is a day to remember,” she had quoted one of her teammates, grinning.
It was also noted that, for the first time, Linnea was basically level in height with almost all of the girls on her team. Another landmark of life.
Puck himself sat mostly captivated the entire game and applauded on cue. And during the warm-ups, when a girl on the opposing team had missed a basket…
“Again,” he instructed.
About 2/3 of the English family were present as well, including Tor, still on Christmas break, Mrs. English with her endless knitting projects, and Mr. English who was once again coaching the girls’ team.
Everyone departed after the noon hour, except for Grandma, who stayed on to have a hot dog from the Cub Scout grill-out. Or, rather, grill in, given to the high frigid winds.
Back to the Silverspoon’s where Gloria had the grill started. And OLeif was busy talking to Puck about his pomegranate juice, or as he had dubbed it: ‘baby fuel’.
“Fuel goes to cars.” Puck had replied. “And I do not drink baby fuel.”
But he came around eventually to the idea of it, and also enjoyed the title of ‘rocket fuel’.
BBC Sherlock was on during Puck’s Quiet Hour.
Izzy out with buddies.
Grilled chicken, beef, and Italian bread.
A quick afternoon as OLeif and Theodore worked on a laptop board in the workshop in the basement.
More grilled meat over dinner, and spiced-sugar tea, as Theodore researched Tai Chi and its health benefits.
“Oh,” said Gloria after awhile of website alterations, “I need a dose of Farside.”
Into the evening…
They were sent off with a pair of black socks for Puck and a mostly full package of corn tortillas.
Back home. Tree still up. Even though Epiphany was quite over…
In sad news of the week…
An old family friend in Nebraska , from the old Immanuel days, had been unexpectedly diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma, Grandpa Snicketts had come down with pneumonia, and Martha’s health was not good, causing some question as to whether or not she could continue working for the Symphony.
“Do you love [God] merely on account of His love to you, or do you love Him because He is in Himself lovely? Do you love Him merely because you hope He will save you, or do you think you should love Him if you supposed He would damn you?”
— Gardner Spring