I
guess on this day in between birthdays (mine
and Chris’) I should back up a bit and relate something that happened
Sunday. We were surprised with a
birthday lunch after church. A group of
friends took us over to Nate’s for one of their famous burgers. There were also presents. Chris got a sewing machine shaped pin cushion
and a gift card to Joann’s. I got an
Astros cup (really nice insulated affair),
some big league chew, some peanuts, and some sunflower seeds. Sensing a pattern here? They were all the prelude to the tickets to
an Astros game I mentioned the other day.
Great meal. Great gifts. Even greater friends.
Now
back to yesterday. I have to admit I
didn’t have a very good birthday night.
It was that there were grandchildren everywhere I turned. They were fine. I woke up with neck pain issues at 3 a.m. Then I couldn’t get back to sleep at
all. The neck still throbbed and
tingled, and the music from Noa’s sound barrier that helps her sleep was all I
could focus on. The same song over and
over and over and over. You would think
the boredom itself would be enough to put me to sleep. Too many more nights like that one and I may
be forced to go to the neurologist.
Other
than taking selfies with Noa while wearing the goofy birthday big nose, bushy
eyebrows, and a moustache glasses, my favorite moment of the sleepover (and the most frightening as well) came
when I was invited by Noa to play babies.
That is an activity that has always been kind of out of my league. I didn’t even know where to begin. Fortunately, she was considerably more experienced
than I. Here’s a summary of the moment.
Noa: “DadDad,
you’re the DadDad.” OK, I get that we
have to establish roles. No response
from me required.
Noa: “And
this is our baby.” Now I’m
assuming/hoping that makes her Nani.
Again, no response required.
Noa: “And
we also have a pet.” Well, that came out
of nowhere. Now was my chance to enter
into the world she was creating.
Me: “A
pet what?”
Noa:
(Holding up a stuffed deer we have): “A
pet reindeer, silly.” Of course. How could I forget? And what followed was a treatise on reindeer
life.
Noa: “They
live in the forest with bears and wolves.”
Me: “Well,
that’s scary, isn’t it?”
Noa (Totally serious now, so I have to be very careful
with my responses): “Well, you see, Mommy reindeer walk with their babies
in the forest.”
Me: “So
the Mommy kicks and stomps the bear when she see him?” Hey, this is the point where I always scored
big with our boys. It usually resulted
in development of a huge scenario regarding true life in the wilds and who
would win in a fight between a hungry bear and an angry reindeer Mom. Not so much here.
Noa: (Long, silent incredulous stare while holding
the reindeer tightly in her arms)
Me: (Hey, I had to try again to salvage this one):
“Oh, so the Mommy protects the babies in the forest?”
Noa: “Oh,
DadDad.”
About
this point, Cailyn walked in and asked Noa if she wanted to play babies with
her. It took about a heartbeat for Noa
to decide. Good old goofy DadDad was trumped
in the playing babies department by Cousin Cailyn. Phew.
The
day was culminated with a big fish fry that brought back all the available Moms
and Dads of the sleepover kids. Except
for April. She had to work. We missed you, April. When you come we usually get to have shrimp
as well as fish. The speckled trout was
fabulous, and the Astros played an afternoon game (and won), so the day was a good one in spite of its painful
start. On now to see what happens on
Chris’ Birthday Eve.
1
Peter 3:10-12 says, “For, ‘Whoever would
love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from
deceitful speech. He must turn from evil
and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and
his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against
those who do evil.’”
Father,
thank you again for all those youngsters.
Can’t say enough about them.
Amen.
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