Jan. 11, 2004 - 21:14 MST

THE WONDERING JEW

Again

As most of our family are still working, a family gathering is contingent on days off when we all are free. Today was one of the days.

Birthdays, four of them. Two are to celebrate the joint birthday of Heather and our grandson, both born on the same day but a few years apart.

Of course today was not their actual birthday but Sunday was as close as we could come. Then one of our great granddaughters has a birthday in a day or two and the lady who recently lost her husband is having a birthday, also in the next few days and was with us.

One thing different about it, basically this time it was for the adults. Our just making eight years granddaughter did not have her raft of friends there. Her mother said there will be a kids get together later.

So we didn't have knee deep kids running and living at the top of their voices, squirming between folks legs and smearing cake and ice cream on everything. But, there were four cakes and ice cream aplenty.

It has been Heather's day and she was the glowing, living it up, birthday girl. Enjoying every minute of it. She got to cuddle six of our great grands, they were there and on their best behavior. Two belong to the mother of the birthday girl and three to her brother.

It wasn't a huge party but one of sociable friends and family (sociable too). The rooms full of talking people, visiting back and forth, giving news of each other and what is going on with themselves. Seemed as if everyone was talking at the same time, and understanding each other quite well. Everyone there cosseted Grandma Heather, frequently.

Presents were opened all around and admired by all. Then ice cream, cake, coffee, Pepsis and things. It was neat, even while the goodies were being consumed, people only stopped talking long enough to take a bite now and then continuing with their conversation.

During the gathering each of our kids would do a one on one with me in a place where I could hear, which made the day for me.

We thankfully realize how grand it is when all of our folks get along with each other, no hurt feelings and actually enjoy being with each other. Other folks aren't so lucky, but we certainly are.

Birthday to birthday we manage to pass the winter and then more birthdays through the rest of the year bring sunshine into our lives.

It is that time of year Again . . . . . . . . . . .

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