Birthdays

I knew growing up that my Grandma Lillian's birthday was near mine, but I didn't really keep track of the date. As a child, I memorized the birthdates of my siblings and parents and that was about it aside from my Aunt Janet. It was very easy to remember hers because her birthday is one day (plus one year) before my dad's. I didn't memorize the birthdates of my cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. As an adult I naturally have a longer list of birthdays to keep track of each year - nieces, nephews, brother-in-laws, mother-in-law, father-in-law, a few friends, etc. I still remember my mom and brother's birthdays each year even though I can't buy them a gift or give them a call on their birthday. Grandma Lillian passed away more than twenty years ago. I think of her from time to time as we have some of her artwork hanging on our walls, and I have a picture of her on a dresser in my bedroom. When I make couscous I always think of her because she was the one to introduce me to that food. I wasn't in the habit of remembering her birthday after she passed away, but the last few years I have made it a point to remember because it means a lot to my Aunt Tina. Her birthday was April 17. I decided to remember her by playing two games in her honor this weekend. Of all my extended family members, she was the one I developed the closest relationship with when I was a teenager and in my twenties. I traveled out to visit her on Long Island by myself, with my friend Joyce, and with Paul. When I was out there, she taught me how to play Rummikub. I also played Scrabble with her frequently. One of her talents was doing crossword puzzles so she had an excellent vocabulary. Last night Paul and I played a game of Scrabble together. I cannot recall the last time the two of us played a game without the kids. I think it has been years. Paul resigned when I had a 100+ point lead over him. Today all five of us played Rummikub. Ian and Oliver were on a team together because it's a game for only four people. Paul won!

Tomorrow is my friend Joyce's birthday. We've been friends for 25 years, but we haven't been able to see each other very often over the past 21 years. In honor of her birthday, I called her on the phone this evening, and we talked for two hours. I treasure meaningful conversations with close friends. Even though she and I don't usually communicate on a very frequent basis, we pick up right where we've left off whenever we reconnect. Earlier today I had a much shorter call that meant a lot to me as I heard Paul's mom's voice for the first time since March 24. That was music to my ears!!!

On Saturday we attended the Maker Faire in Bloomsburg. We had really enjoyed it in the past. I didn't feel up to going on the day it was held in 2019, and of course it was cancelled last year. This year the event seemed larger than the last time we attended, but it was very different. We preferred it the way it was in the past. The one thing we appreciated that they added was an outdoor area for performances. Because Ian attended a birthday party, we missed the Japanese taiko drumming performance, but the kids really enjoyed a 30 minute performance of competitive Irish dancing. I doubt we'll return in the future. 

Ian listening to a ham radio

Yesterday we tried another new recipe - Indian Tandoori chicken. I had to buy some new spices in order to make it. We all ate it, but only one person enjoyed it - Ian! Who would guess that the child who didn't like to eat absolutely anything when he was a toddler would enjoy really spicy food at the age of 11? I don't ever plan to make it again. I also don't plan to make Derbyshire oatcakes again - they are a British kind of pancake that has yeast and oatmeal in it. However, the kids dislike rice so much that they opted to eat leftover oatcakes with their chicken instead of the basmati rice I had prepared, ha ha! 

The robotic dog was cool, but the kids prefer Milo!

In the grand scheme of thing this is a trivial concern, but we haven't been able to turn Ian's expander over the last week. I turned it Monday morning, and we were at the orthodontist on Monday afternoon. I wish I had asked him to turn it once then! He said to turn it seven more times. We haven't turned it once since then albeit Ian, Paul, and I have tried many times. We have two more weeks to accomplish seven turns. The orthodontist only comes to the Williamsport office on Mondays, and he won't be in tomorrow. If we can't succeed soon, I'm going to ask the kids' dentist (who sings in the choir with me at our church) if he might be able to help us. I've turned it 37 times so far. I'm praying we can succeed with the last 7 times without an extra trip to Williamsport if at all possible. We already had one extra trip another time we couldn't turn it. I don't aspire to be an orthodontist that is for certain!