THE DAY AFTER

It was a thrill to walk into my daughter’s house and see the new stove. It is beautiful. My son-in-laws-brother arrived early on Saturday to correct the wiring problem. No problem for him. It was done without issue. Even better than seeing the stove was seeing her cooking on the stovetop with items in the oven as well. I had a brief cry again.

I love my son-in-laws family but I did approach the evening with some trepidation. The house is small. The living room, dining room and kitchen are all one room. While the kids could play some in the kid’s bedrooms upstairs, I suspected they would mostly be down stairs. They were.

The noise level built gradually. The early arrivers were able to play outside for a while. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining. It looked like we should set out and decorate a palm tree. A light sweatshirt was all that was needed.

When all the cousins are together, there are nine. The last arrivals have four. They are loud and not always controlled. I watched the daughter peal an orange and drop the skins into an open bagged Christmas gift. I was the furthest adult from her, but maybe the only one who saw the action. I wanted to scream at her, but like a nice little grandpa I kept my mouth shut. I am not the parent.

While the noise was already at a Piper Cub sound level, it quickly grew to a Boeing 747 level. Getting their attention for prayer was a major undertaking. It took very little time for my head to begin throbbing. I could not follow any conversation and the chaos built until my nerves seemed to crash in. I pulled my daughter aside and tried to explain what was happening to me. I then excused myself and went home.

As I was driving away I noticed my churches Christmas Eve service was starting in fifteen minutes. I arrived only five minutes late. It was so peaceful and calm. It helped me come down gently. There was a beautiful violin as part of the smaller worship band. Peaceful. I needed that. It was good to be in the house of the Lord.

I was wiped out when I got home, but chose to finish my latest J.A. Jance mystery book. Great ending. She handles ending smoothly. They are dramatic, but not drawn out. After the killer is determined and caught, usually in the very true to life ways, there is a chapter taking the character back to normal life. I like that.

I returned to my daughters Christmas Day to be with just them. It was wonderful. We all have a great deal of excitement about that day. While excited, the kids are older and completely under control. I loved it. I left about 5:00 and came home only to fall asleep three times in my recliner. I had no reason to stay up even though was early but I could not seem to stay awake long enough make it to the bedroom. So, when I finally did wake up enough to move myself, I was wide-awake for another couple of hours. Yuck. I know I will nap off an on most of the day and I’m looking forward to it. My apartment needs to be cleaned, but tomorrow or the next day it can be done. After all, it is only I walking around in the dirt and I don’t mind — especially when it is my dirt.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

I don’t really think much about birthdays anymore. In fact, I don’t remember ever thinking much about birthdays. I have no memory of any birthday celebration from my childhood. I know there were no parties.

When I got to high school, friends tried to celebrate with a surprise. I appreciated the effort, but really, there were no surprises, but there were good times.

Della, my wife, never forgot my birthday and I certainly never forgot hers. BC (before children) it meant a nice meal and a pleasant evening. That continued until our daughter was born the day before my birthday. That effectively ended my isolated and individual birthday. Two birthdays so close together was a challenge and children take precedence.

I didn’t mind. I was beginning to travel more with my work and in time we had my birthday whenever.

I do remember three huge birthday surprises. We were living in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where I worked for University Drive Alliance. Lois (Rose) Thiessen was living with us while attending the University of Saskatchewan. On my birthday, loud noises and my youth group suddenly awaked me early in my living room singing happy birthday. It took a while to figure out they hadn’t just broke in to attack and rob me. Lois, bless her little pea pickin’ heart, had let them in. I had to scramble to find something to wear. I was not appropriately attired for company. In fact, I was not attired at all.

The second was in Vancouver, BC. The youth group came over my birthday night and brought me a cake. I was surprised to see them and even more surprised by the cake. I had never seen one like it. If I remember correctly it was angel food, one of my favorites. It was the decorations that I had never seen. Each person was invited to bring a topping to add to the cake. There was some frosting, somewhere under there, but there was also pickles, carrots, celery, and assorted other vegetable. There was ketchup, mustard and relishes with caramel sauce and more things than I could identify or name.

Their plan was to deliver the cake and leave. That was not going to happen. If they expected me to eat the cake I wanted them to enjoy it with me. I almost forced them to sit while I cut and served that cake. Without hesitation I say, that was the worse birthday cake I have ever tasted.

The Portrait Players, a drama team I worked with in Regina, got in my house and decorated it as only juveniles can. They short sheeted the bed, put honey on the toilet seat, and rearranged our cupboards. There was probably more, but that is all the photo records of their visit.

They tell me that when working with youth, these kind of celebrations are all a form of love. I don’t remember asking for that kind of love. But they were all memorable and I accept the gesture.

Yesterday we celebrated Jean’s 90t birthday. She is my next-door neighbor. It was fun because she was so excited as was her daughter. It was cool. It was even more fun to see how excited she was at celebrating that birthday. Most people at the Home would rather forget about birthdays at this stage of life. But Birthdays are not so bad. They say you made it one more year and you still have time to become all God wants you to be.

I’m glad I have had birthdays. It beats the alternative. When you have grandkids around, you are always looking forward to being there for the next life milestone. I want to see my great grand kids get married. I hope everyone hurries, I have never wanted to live to be 100.