My birthday was a mixture of emotions. The patriarch, Roy-ly declared he would be in attendance for a dinner. We would go someplace special. He did allow that I could pick the restaurant although he would have been happy to go back to DeLucca's for the upteemth (it's a number, look it up) time. He would purchase his own dinner and drinks. He is prone to pronouncements these days. We all obey as his loyal subjects of course. Better to laugh than to see him cry.
My husband and I and His Highness met my daughter at an eclectic supper club in downtown Lansing called the Cadillac Club. Very bizarre place and very low-down yet sophisticated coolll. Built, I kid you not, in an old bowling alley. The dance floor still bears a remarkable resemblance to bowling lanes -which of course it is! We enjoyed me enjoying a birthday drink called the Le La? Lu Lo? Ye hah? I have no idea. I do know they set it on fire way to close to me and we all yelled the appropriate words which I am pretty sure were not "OOPA!" Wrong cuisine. I waited patiently for a genie to appear. They didn't say that would happen, but I assumed.
We proceeded to drinks, appetizers, drink, dinner, drink, drink. In due course two young men showed up with a couple of 6-srings to play a medley of 60'sish songs. They were apparently substitutes for whoever was scheduled, but the 7 or 8 of us in the place were polite. As Roy-ly is rolling at this point he talks about getting a request played. The 20 something hostess comes over to see if all is well, well we were a little noisy. Roy-ly asked if she had ever heard of Guy Lombardo-we are sufficiently comfortable enough to enjoy her consternation and confusion. Oh give me a break. Even Kristen knows who Guy is.
Roy-ly then decides he is going to ask for "To Each His Own". I try to stay his enthusiasm by relaying that boys who are playing Jimmy Buffett and Moon Dance are not likely to know any 40's music. Undeterred he approaches and makes his request-always prefaced by the throw away line "Well I'm old". Apparently this opens doors and provides freebies or at least understanding. We'll check our sheet music they say. Nothing. Roy-ly keeps waiting. I try to point out the lack of knowledge of our young entertainers. He decides if he tips them, magically the music will appear. We finally put everyone out of their anticipatory misery but ending the evening about 9:00. Big fun.
Mother would have loved the evening. In fact Roy-ly relayed some fascinating stories about their travels and him hauling her out of places when he thought she was getting too much attention. Mother was in my thoughts many times that day and I missed her especially on my day. At 8:30 am I always called her on Nov. 8 to thank her for my birth. As 8:30 approached I was hurting when the phone rang. My own beautiful daughter called at that precise moment as she remembered my ritual. We live on in our children. You would think I would know that by now. It helped.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
FAMILY, LOVE, PURSUIT
Just got back from a family weekend. It is quite a production when we get together, but it is always highlighted by good food, extreme laughter and possibly a new cocktail or two. Every year we celebrate the November birthdays while the "boy" is up with his father chasing the elusive white tail or sleeping in his blind (pick one). Actually that's not fair, he is sleeping because he always catches a cold in honor of the season so he is either coughing his head off which the bucks take as a mating call or he has mixed a few cold remedies- hence the nodding off at significant moments. But saves time when you don't have to drag multiple deer carcasses out of the woods.
Big joke last year was him watching a small "button" buck wander back and forth several times in front of his blind. After testing the waters, he kept wandering back, no doubt sticking his little pink tongue out with the deer equivalent of Nyeah nyeah. However the agreement was, no spikers on opening day. Hold out for the big horned buckeroos. Well eventually he wanders off, no doubt bored with the one-sided game. Within a few minutes, shots ring out. The boy gets on the walkie-talkie to his brother. "Did you just shoot a little buck?" "Well, yeah I did" reports his brother. Apparently the one-sided game did not apply to everyone....
Anyway back to the story. We combine my brother's, brother-in-law's and my birthday as an excuse to enjoy one of Brian's famous meals. Three scorpios in one fell swoop. Who needs booze? This year was extra special as the Michigan-Ohio game was happening Saturday as well. My brother-in-law, alias the chef, is an avid-take no prisoners-we are number one-Ohio fan. Two of his friends arrive each anniversary of the game wearing very deliberate blue & gold garb and cheering on what Brian considers the wrong team. Makes for some interesting insults dependent upon who's up. Well no contest this year as Ohio took it to Michigan at Michigan. As a rabid Michigan State fan myself, no tears were shed by anyone to see Michigan get beat.
Gets better. This is an all-day affair. First it is Mexican/international fiesta at noon with several different offerings of exotic and better not to ask what's in it food. Then this is followed by a Brats & sauerkraut dinner, followed by birthday cake. Oh yes signature cocktail was Lemon drop and some lime thingee.. Delish! Unfortunately I got sick between the first and second course, only had 2 cocktails and ended up praying in a pot (use your imagination) during the sauerkraut and cake extravaganza. Also since my brother didn't show, Brian had Happy Birthday all to himself. Oh well he did do all the cooking.
But here's the thing. Life has been so fragile lately with all of us dealing with our Mother's death in different ways. Denial, depression, hysterical laughter, mysticism, spiritualism and tears at the most unexpected moments triggered by the oddest things. We have all had our moments and some of them we have together. It has helped us see the value of life in whatever way, shape or form it takes and live it to the fullest. It is hard for us to see that and easy to take the day to day for granted.
I know I do and I am trying to see beyond just work and duty and try to be who I am and who I must be or I have squandered my chances. I must try this writing thing and circumstances have taught me that I only have myself to blame if I don't pursue something I like even if I'm not the "best drummer in the world". I still have the right to enjoy and practice what gifts I have even if I am the only one who hears the music.
Big joke last year was him watching a small "button" buck wander back and forth several times in front of his blind. After testing the waters, he kept wandering back, no doubt sticking his little pink tongue out with the deer equivalent of Nyeah nyeah. However the agreement was, no spikers on opening day. Hold out for the big horned buckeroos. Well eventually he wanders off, no doubt bored with the one-sided game. Within a few minutes, shots ring out. The boy gets on the walkie-talkie to his brother. "Did you just shoot a little buck?" "Well, yeah I did" reports his brother. Apparently the one-sided game did not apply to everyone....
Anyway back to the story. We combine my brother's, brother-in-law's and my birthday as an excuse to enjoy one of Brian's famous meals. Three scorpios in one fell swoop. Who needs booze? This year was extra special as the Michigan-Ohio game was happening Saturday as well. My brother-in-law, alias the chef, is an avid-take no prisoners-we are number one-Ohio fan. Two of his friends arrive each anniversary of the game wearing very deliberate blue & gold garb and cheering on what Brian considers the wrong team. Makes for some interesting insults dependent upon who's up. Well no contest this year as Ohio took it to Michigan at Michigan. As a rabid Michigan State fan myself, no tears were shed by anyone to see Michigan get beat.
Gets better. This is an all-day affair. First it is Mexican/international fiesta at noon with several different offerings of exotic and better not to ask what's in it food. Then this is followed by a Brats & sauerkraut dinner, followed by birthday cake. Oh yes signature cocktail was Lemon drop and some lime thingee.. Delish! Unfortunately I got sick between the first and second course, only had 2 cocktails and ended up praying in a pot (use your imagination) during the sauerkraut and cake extravaganza. Also since my brother didn't show, Brian had Happy Birthday all to himself. Oh well he did do all the cooking.
But here's the thing. Life has been so fragile lately with all of us dealing with our Mother's death in different ways. Denial, depression, hysterical laughter, mysticism, spiritualism and tears at the most unexpected moments triggered by the oddest things. We have all had our moments and some of them we have together. It has helped us see the value of life in whatever way, shape or form it takes and live it to the fullest. It is hard for us to see that and easy to take the day to day for granted.
I know I do and I am trying to see beyond just work and duty and try to be who I am and who I must be or I have squandered my chances. I must try this writing thing and circumstances have taught me that I only have myself to blame if I don't pursue something I like even if I'm not the "best drummer in the world". I still have the right to enjoy and practice what gifts I have even if I am the only one who hears the music.
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