Hey Binnie!
I'M FORTY-FIVE
In a group text with The Quad Tuesday, they asked what I was up to for my birthday. I told them, "I'm at a Concert!"
for...
Middle School, BAND!"
Mr. Siggard was explicit in the dress code for the students, Dress will be casual, but please look nice (no holey pants or shorts). Graham chose to wear his suit, which we all agreed are his HOLY pants.
The evening was lovely for an outdoor concert. Hearing Graham play the theme song from Indiana Jones was such a treat that I decided to record it. Graham watched it later and said, "You recorded it in slow motion, mom." I did???? Callie played her violin on the other side of the school (the same songs she played the week before when Dad was out of town), so he walked over to watch her. It was a perfect night for the outdoor Arts Gala, hosted by the Middle School. However, it put us having dinner quite late. I wasn't sure where I wanted to eat, so I said, "Just start naming places, and I'll shoot ya' down." First, Dad suggested Don Pedro's. I didn't shoot it down, so there we went!
Grayson met us there. We were in a booth that sat four, so he scootched a chair at the end and shared our food. Callie and I were already sharing a plate, yet we all left so stuffed. Partly because of the desserts! When I overheard one of the waiters tell someone it was his birthday, I stopped him and said, "It's my birthday too!" At the end of our meal, fried ice cream was brought to the table–compliments of Ricardo. We had already ordered the churros, so…
There was a guy in a big truck right outside the window who was taking forever to leave. His lights were shining right on us. As he finally drove away, I waved excitedly out the window, "BUH-BYE!"
Dad couldn't wave as easily because earlier in the day, he was swatting at a bee so violently in his office that he whacked his finger against the wall. As the day progressed, so did the swelling and bruising of his finger:/
Dad's b-day gift to me was a gift card to Paradise Nails. I said, "You can give me this for every birthday, Christmas and Anniversary, and I'd be happy."
He smiled, "So I nailed it?" He NAILED it, literally.
The two of us had also enjoyed lunch that afternoon. We tried to go to Fanny's, but it was under renovation. So…just like a couple of years ago, we ended up at Zermatt across the street. They had the most delicious lemon tart, so…
It was a lovely day with well-wishers stopping by, texts, phone calls, and family. When Janell brought a gift by, she said, "You look nice!" It was my birthday, so…
Let's do it all again in two days!
BIG FIFTY!!!!!
Dad chose Chick's Cafe with his chick for lunch. I thought I saw Hazel's mom working there (it's hard to tell for sure with the mask). I looked at her and asked, "Antje?"
She replied, "She's busy."
Huh? Does that mean it was her, but she was telling me that she (herself) was busy? OR that someone else was? I don't. know.
Dad got himself his own gift; an apple watch. He's wanted one forever. He NAILED it again.
We picked up treats at Midway Bakery for our party that night. However, as we neared the three o'clock sugar rush, I suggested we eat the treats. Everyone is stuffed after dinner usually. So…
Dinner ended up being at NINE o'clock that night. Dad BBQed. I got him a new stove-top popper. We wear those things out! He said, "If I didn't get one of these, I was going to go buy one TOMORROW." Guess I NAILED it.
GRADUATION!!!!
On Thursday, Grayson participated in The March of the Graduates at JR Smith. I wanted to see it, but I didn't want to go. So…I parked at the church and watched them as they walked into the school. The problem was that Grayson had spotted the van, so he kept waiting for me to pop out around the corner the whole time. I asked, "Were you glad that I didn't?" He was glad. I couldn't have gone in any way. After seeing them all in their caps and gowns, I was rather verklempt.
Once again, we enjoyed sharing Dad's birthday with the High School graduation. What are the odds that it would be on May 20th, two years in a row?
When Mallerie saw the video, she said, "It's so weird to see everyone there, without masks!" What a difference a year makes. I once again fumbled my recording and missed them calling his name. BUT at least it wasn't in slow-mo (facepalm).
Finding each other in the crowd afterward was no joke! Thinking ahead, I had Graham and Callie get the balloon out of the car, but it wouldn't stay up—due to the wind—so that didn't help us find each other. Eventually, we found Grayson's pack for pictures. I was picking up Graham from band practice when Grayson left. The whole evening seemed a lifetime in the making and then passed by in a blur. However, I was there, I saw it; Grayson graduated!
The weather held just until everyone had their fill of photos. Then the wind picked up with such gust that I was glad I had a mask! We hurried across the dirt parking lot as it whipped around us, pelting our skin.
Re-cap
It was like we were playing gopher this week. We each took turns being the ones who popped up, whether through a concert, a birthday, or graduation. However, you couldn't stay up long, because soon it was someone else's turn.
As the Asian proverb says, "The nail that sticks up gets hammered down."
Sending all my love, Mom
