I drove the 227 miles to Fresno, yesterday, straight into the eye of the birthday/Mother's Day hurricane that is my sister's family in May. Terry's birthday is May 8. Her daughter, Andrea's birthday is also May 8. And granddaughter, Ella's birthday is, you guessed it, May 8. So, they wrap into a big, cacophonous celebration! With heavy Mother's Day overtones. It's big fun!
Just about everyone was there. H and all six kids--Corrie, Frank, Katie, Lily, Andrea and Annie. Son-in-law, Jeff (Corrie), and daughter-in-law, Lisa (Frank). Son-in-law, Dave (Katie) was conspicuously absent. I hope he has a note from the doctor, or some such. I counted all 7 1/2 grandchildren--Ella, Tabor, Quinn, Gigi (Corrie and Jeff's kids), Gavin and Parker (Frank and Lisa), and Grace (Katie and Dave). And Katie's due in September. Andrea had several friends in attendance. There was Annie's friend, Sarah. Lamek (sp?) came. Then there was Mom and I.
In a flurry of movement, food, chatter and wrapping paper, it sometimes seemed as though there were several parties going on in the same space at the same time. I guess there were, really. Anyway, it worked. And just about the time it was all cleaned up, and most folks had gone, so was all our energy. Terry, Mom and I flopped on the sofa for 15 minutes to watch Ace of Cakes (Harry Potter episode) and that was about all we could wring out of the evening.
I went back to Mom's house with her, then took off this morning for the return trip. I was home by lunch. But it seems farther, in some ways.
Our house is a Trappist monastery compared to theirs. Without the monks. Especially since Tom had been called away to LA right after I left for Fresno and won't be back 'til tomorrow. But change is good. But I think I'll go turn on the radio...