|
-
We hook up with Stefanie at U-Village ( the U referring
to the University of Seattle). It’s a huge outdoor mall with a
staggering amount of high-end retailers. It’s beautifully done
with raised walkways and plantings all around. We meet Stefanie
and Halle at the play area near a World Wraps. We have lunch and
Stef goes home to give Halle a nap…
-
Once I ditch Steve, Lilli, and Julia I take Jonah to make
last minute birthday purchases, like wrapping paper and make-up.
They go off to Barnes & Noble, and have, between the 3 of them 4
pieces of cheesecake and cappuccino…Steve looks like he is about
to explode and keeps asking the girls, “how could you let me so
much?”
-
In the late afternoon we drive over to Stefanie’s, where
Steve proceeds to take a nap.
-
It turns out that Stefanie’s friend Anne is having a
sample sale of some clothes line she works for and she really
wants Stef to come over. So much so that she invites me and my
children to tag along. I can’t resist, everything is $5! So
while I send Steve to drop off the van and pick up the bus, the
kids, Stefanie and I go off to Anne’s house for a Sample Sale!
-
As soon as we get there the kids disappear into the back
yard, entertained by her 10 girl and 9 year old boy and we hear
from them only once, when Halle comes in crying because she fell
out of a tree…they play in the back while we go through an
enormous amount of piled up clothes. Wine glass in hand I sift
through everything from jean jackets to leather pants and find
one treasure after another. A lot of it is too small but a few
things fit and with lots of laughs and girl bonding we sort
through all the piles. In the end I spend $26 on 2 amazing
jackets and 2 cardigans, which leaves my wallet completely
empty. Anne seems nice, although I guess Chris doesn’t like her
or her dude, whom she doesn’t seem to like either.
-
Lilli liked the kids, Emilia and Aiden and Stefanie ends
up inviting Anne and her kids over for Julia’s birthday party at
Stefanie’s house tomorrow.
-
Anne sends home cooked chicken legs, and on the way out
asks Julia what she might like for her birthday. I mention
something about make-up, playing the whole thing down, so she
doesn’t feel too obligated to a kid she didn’t even know 2 hours
ago…but, of course she does.
-
Julia mentions something about how I haven’t gotten any
presents for her J
-
Back at Stef’s house the kids have dinner, chicken legs
and noodles and settle in to watch Bambi. The grown-ups eat late
– again and we are in for another late night. Tomorrow is
Julia’s birthday. When I kiss her good night ( 11pm) I look at
her with care so as to not miss any of her as she grows up right
in front of my eyes. She tunes into my sudden sincerity and
starts to cry. When I ask her why she is crying she says
something about how she “used to like to be in a row with Lauren
(in age).” That is the label she found to put on her sad
feelings about change. This child at 6 cries deeply about one of
lives most profound truths: life is constant change – even
things you love don’t stay the same, in the end all is gone and
lost…she truly is and old soul.
-
After they have all gone to sleep, I get to work. I know,
Steve is expecting to go to sleep too. But I innocently ask,
“are you going to help me wrap?” His weak “yes, dear” is enough
for me and so he sleepily sits down at the kitchen table
awaiting directions. While we are wrapping, carrot cake muffins
are cooking and their delicious smell slowly fills the bus.
Steve’s job is to put the ribbons on all the packages that are
starting to mount on the kitchen table, he makes each look
sillier than the next…fine with me
J
-
I decorate the table, cabinets, and ceiling with ribbons
and balloons, put the finished muffins on the table with six
candles…everything is done, it’s around 1 o’clock, I drop into
bed. |
