The evening of my 70th birthday, 8 of us gather in our backyard to celebrate. The weather is mild. The shed doors freshly painted. I feel calm all day, not a calm of resignation but one of hope.
Jonathan and I arrange chairs in a half circle facing the shed that sits in one corner of the yard. The shed has double doors on two sides. One time this spring we had pretended it was a stage when our oldest grandson, was with us. So, we expand on that idea. I act as MC, welcoming those few present (this is not yet the full end of the pandemic) and introduce Dylan, our 6 year-old grandson. He opens the doors of the shed and steps out, violin in hand, to our applause.
Dylan plays two pieces: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Etude by Suzuki. More applause. More bites of cake, and now our son, Benno, with his guitar enters the shed to wait for his introduction. Benno reads a touching tribute to me and my 7 decades of living then sings Emmy Lou Harris' song, The Pearl.
Our daughter-in-law, Molly repeats that she and her mother have not planned to share in the program of the evening. I easily give them a pass--she has brought baby Abigail, and that is contribution enough!
I introduce the 3rd and what I believe will be the final act, Jonathan, my husband. He offers a deeply touching tribute as well! No song, no dance, but perfect!
To our surprise, the 2 1/2 year-old, Andrew, signals that he also wants to experience the magic of walking out of the shed door to applause. So he does, again and again!
We end this evening with a dance party, Benno/Molly family to Jazz Police.
A intimate birthday party in our own backyard. God be praised.
Jonathan and I arrange chairs in a half circle facing the shed that sits in one corner of the yard. The shed has double doors on two sides. One time this spring we had pretended it was a stage when our oldest grandson, was with us. So, we expand on that idea. I act as MC, welcoming those few present (this is not yet the full end of the pandemic) and introduce Dylan, our 6 year-old grandson. He opens the doors of the shed and steps out, violin in hand, to our applause.
Dylan plays two pieces: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Etude by Suzuki. More applause. More bites of cake, and now our son, Benno, with his guitar enters the shed to wait for his introduction. Benno reads a touching tribute to me and my 7 decades of living then sings Emmy Lou Harris' song, The Pearl.
Our daughter-in-law, Molly repeats that she and her mother have not planned to share in the program of the evening. I easily give them a pass--she has brought baby Abigail, and that is contribution enough!
I introduce the 3rd and what I believe will be the final act, Jonathan, my husband. He offers a deeply touching tribute as well! No song, no dance, but perfect!
To our surprise, the 2 1/2 year-old, Andrew, signals that he also wants to experience the magic of walking out of the shed door to applause. So he does, again and again!
We end this evening with a dance party, Benno/Molly family to Jazz Police.
A intimate birthday party in our own backyard. God be praised.
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