Birthdays and Anniversaries

Today, 17-June-2007, is both Father's Day -- and I qualify -- and also my parents' 46th wedding anniversary. I wasn't there, but have seen the pictures. Dad was in his Navy whites, Mom in a white gown, of course. I'm not going to say my parents are my heroes -- that's both sappy and clichéd, and simply being my parents is more than enough burden to celebrate. I cannot imagine what it's like fulfilling the role of "parent" for nearly a half-century, but I do hope I get to find out. It's a pretty good example for which to strive. I started a lot later, though.

Also recently, both the dear wife and I had birthdays in the past few weeks. We were in Houston when mine rolled around, a weekend spent going to Astros games (all of us for one, me alone for the second), the Houston Art Car Parade (too many pictures to choose just one; I'll try to get a gallery up), then one night in Galveston at Moody Gardens, where we toured the rainforest pyramid before heading home. Val and the kids surprised me (really!) with a few presents -- a baseball book and a toy sushi set, which was great fun (but which, by now, I've largely relegated to the kids to enjoy).

Amalie prepares a California roll (well, not really).

After the Art Car Parade, we walked back across downtown Houston -- our hotel was right next to the ballpark -- and it wasn't so hot or bright a day that we were miserable, though it was a decent trek (the buildings provided plenty of shade). Along the way we came across a huge sculpture that was perfect for the kids to play with, so we took a few minutes and let them poke about.

The kids interact with a gigantic sculpture in downtown Houston.

Pretty birds at Moody Gardens.

Val's birthday is less than a month after mine, and while I'd like to say I was on top of things, that wouldn't nearly be the case. The traditional gift, a medallion -- she collects them -- of the 2007 Iditarod winner (it was Lance Mackey), was frustrated in that such a medallion has not yet been produced, and may never be (some of the winners apparently are hard to get to agree to personal image licensing, as was the case in 2006). So the day before, I started just winging it, picking up a few things we needed or wanted anyway, plus a roll of paper, and to be fair I had gotten her a book a few days earlier, so I wasn't a total basket case. In all, Val got eight gifts, and the one roll of paper served the need perfectly; there were two leftover bits just about right for Amalie's origami hobby, so she took them and folded them into animal heads, which currently are lost among the usual ground clutter. As with the kids, Val had to find the gifts scattered about the homestead, but with two small and eager helpers this only took a few minutes.

Val, assisted by Carson, surveys her birthday hoard.

Opening the gifts was not a problem either, as she had four extra hands more than ready to rip and tear. The haul included: a new rice cooker, a grilling rack, the aforementioned book about physicist Richard Feynman, a DVD movie (The Queen; it's pretty good), a standup banana hook for the kitchen, a bar of peach soap, a pound of organic coffee, and a new wallet. This one was particularly special for me, both because her old one was falling apart, and the pockets inside were so small that I had to abrade my knuckles whenever retrieving receipts or filching a bit of cash. The new wallet is sturdy, well-conditioned leather with roomy pockets; it went into service immediately with hearty approval.

The finishing touch was, of course, birthday desserts. While we make cakes for the kids, the preferred option among the big people is a selection of treats from Central Market, which is what I did get. A small chocolate cheesecake, a brightly-frosted cupcake, a walnut brownie, and a slice of carrot cake (my personal favorite, though I'm more than happy to share), all eaten in a round-robin style, though the kids liked the cupcake best, as witness below.

Amalie enjoys some birthday cupcake.

As does Carson.

Guess who got baths later?

So, good birthdays to enjoy. There was a Mother's Day in there as well, and Val was suitably feted, mainly through our vacation weekend with not a meal to be cooked nor (and this is more important) cleaned up. And we got in some swimming in Galveston, which is always fun.

And as for Father's Day? All I wanted was a cup of coffee and a few minutes peace to read the comics, and I got it. It helps to aim small sometimes.