Nov. 18, 2007 - 21:07 MST

FESTIVITIES

Last year daughter and family came to Denver for the Christmas holidays, to visit with us and daughter's mate's family. A wonderful time for us all.

I think the women of the family are way ahead of us men in scheduling things.

This year, seeing that we had Christmas with them at our home, we came here for the Thanksgiving season. (every other year we switch, one year Thanksgiving and one year Christmas)

Daughter and mate's son has a birthday today (the 18th).

Daughter has been preparing for his birthday for ages. And she made it grand.

Breakfast of grandson's desire. Church, followed by eating out at Turtle's (a nice place), time well spent while dining in vistings all around.

Then home and lolling in front of the TV watching football for a time.

As the hills got foggy and the sun started down, came the time to open presents. We gathered around for the big celebration of opening presents.

I did a very minor part in preparation, daughter had bought a kit to make a skyscraper, one with socket and wire to be a lamp. Funny thing was that the pieces were interlocking, and after a try or two decided that the only way to get the darn thing to hang together was by using Scotch Tape to tie the pieces together. It is four or five foot long. After false stabs at erection, finally the Scotch Tape was provided and the tower became a reality.

But the rest of it, all daughter's doings was fantastic. She had taped to the wall a background of skyscrapers, all around the room. Black paper cutouts of skylines on the big table. Small models of buildings, one I remember was the Eiffel Tower. Many different things and the pile of presents ? All rectangular in one form or another, silver wrapped, stacked in the form of a skyscraper itself. On each box were attached photos of young Thomas at different ages and in different parts of the world. As well, Each box had a quote of a famous person, each one an encouragement for grandson in his future life.

Here there is great ceremony in birthday rites, and today was a peak event in the annals of birthday celebration.

One box was full of books, most of which were books he desired, the others delighted him also. He also got wearables, electronic things that I don't even understand, some of which will be used with his I-pod. Oh, yes, inside each box was another quote to read.

And then after the presents were opened, daughter and her daughter installed the candles on a cake, that was also rectangular and decorated as a building.

Thomas was greatly impressed and grateful for his 18th birthday celebration, as were his Grandma and I.

Not sure if we will be around when he reaches 21, I do hope so but can't count on it, but we lived it up to the max this time.

Soon enough he will be in college and on his way to independent adulthood, of which I think he has a good start, better than many kids, that's for sure.

Along with the presents he received today, also his parents have given him the love of reading, the discipline of piano playing along with the love of music, and many other good things that only parents can lead their children in doing.

All in all, today was one of the greatest FESTIVITIES . . . . . . . . . .

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