We came to Vancouver for this little one’s birthday, and my, was she happy! What a delight it is to have a wee girl’s face light up at the very sight of you…Nana! Granddad! I two! happy birdy Hattie!
It was a lovely simple celebration, sushi at the birthday girl’s request and the family tradition I somehow invented of a cake-mix Angel food cake iced with whipped cream and decorated with sprinkles (I used to use gumdrops but traditions can be tweaked). An aunt came by with a baby cousin (Ree-Ree! Beebee Fanky!) then baby cousin’s daddy joined us later (Jesse!), each one greeted with an eruption of delighted excitement.
Well worth the trip over, in other words, although now I’m anxiously eyeing the weather, thinking about tomorrow’s trip home, wondering how much snow and ice there’ll be on the very hilly drive to the ferry.
That’s tomorrow, though. Today, we’ll work our way around the Grey Cup Parade crowds to pick up Nola and hang out with her for a few hours, maybe squeeze in a visit with her mom and dad, maybe see another little family for a second visit. Last night our son and daughter-in-law joined us here for dinner with an aunt and uncle visiting from out of town. Yesterday, I made a foray into some of the big sales, decided I’d forego possible Christmas savings in favour of peace, save my energy for the marking that I’m sneaking into the weekend’s corners. All the good kinds of busy. . .
It’s a rather prosaic post, this, isn’t it? But honestly, aren’t those the best pleasures, the simple, everyday, domestic ones, the ones we so easily take for granted. Watching my adult son and my beautifully pregnant daughter-in-law chat with their aunt and uncle across the table last night, my son all handsome and, not surprisingly (although it still does stun me, occasionally, this magic transformation of the eight-year-old who used to twist my curls in his fingers while he told me about his day) full grown (having most of 3 decades behind him!), a witty and bright and polite and thoughtful human being…. As the commercials say, in comparison to all the stuff I could have bought in the sales yesterday, these moments are priceless.
And now I’m off to see how slippery the sidewalks will be for a run. I’d planned an 18-kilometre route for this morning, but we’ll see…. Have to keep the limbs in one piece for some six-year-old fun later….
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Back again after two weeks without internet nor telephone. I really missed your blog!
Just finished my first batch of Christmas cookies, there are more to come, and quite a lot of grading waiting in the wings. These weekends running up to the holidays are good practive for keeping your priorities straight, I find. Apparently, you are doing the right thing this weekend. Enjoy!
It's true — good practice indeed, these weekends. Sounds as if you've got the balance, between the cookies and the grading! (Two weeks without internet — wow!)
Sounds good to me. I too have some marking and planning waiting to be dealt with but I have just treated myself to preparing dried fruits and nuts for Christmas cake baking whilst listening to old episodes of Sherlock Holmes on the radio. Here in England the Christmas frenzy has begun far too early and I prefer to ignore it until a more fitting time. But – sugar, spice, nuts and dried fruit. Quite medieval!
Medieval with a touch of Sherlock — perfection! (and yes, that Christmas frenzy deserves to be ignored as long as possible).
Sounds awesome.
Sounds just wonderful.
What a sweet-looking little girl!
Oh that face, absolutely precious.
Precious moments…thank you for sharing them.
Your post left me with a smile. Such an angelic face. Indeed the everyday moments are the best.
We were in Vancouver at the same time, not too far away from each other. (west van?) Your family moments are a delight to read.
We were in the West End — actually bumped into a friend from Ottawa I haven't seen for years. One of these visits maybe I'll bump into you. . . .;-)
I love these posts! Imagine being two and choosing sushi!
And she devoured hers very enthusiastically!
Thanks for all your comments — please excuse that I'm not individualizing responses. Busy days!
I love the way you talk about having an adult son. I feel that very much with my own son, who is 33 now. The shadow of his childhood self stands just behind him for me and every time we see him, which is often, I get a little start of thrilling surprise at what an entirely adult and lovely man he is.
Yes, it's a thrill, a little frisson, true wonder at how it could have happened, magic I had a part in. . . Lovely! Glad to hear others enjoy the same surprise.