Random Notes from the Week of the Party

1.  The exhaustion of relief.  I don't think I'd even admitted to myself how worried I've been about Ernie's PSA test this week.  Having it over, and having good news, left me somewhat limp last night. 

2.  I met a new friend last night.  Allison had written me a wonderful, touching note a week or so ago and last night she came by with an incredibly generous birthday present for me.  And I loved her....as Ernie did....and suddenly we have a new friend and I am really rather humbled by what sharing myself on this blog has brought me.  She can't make the party this week but I know I'll see her in the future....

3.  We celebrated last night by having Chinese food delivered.  I was kind of in the mood for Thai but we didn't feel like going out to get it.  When we lived in Chicago our old rule of thumb for celebrating after an antique show was as follows:

bad show:  frozen pizza

o.k. show:  pizza delivered

good show:  Chinese delivered

great show:  Thai delivered

Of course that was when we were in Chicago when you could get anything delivered any time of day.  We don't really follow this that much anymore but we still see ordering Chinese, and ultimately Thai, as a celebration.

4.  Today I looked out the kitchen window and said to Ernie, "so you're gonna get the patio fence fixed before the party, huh?"  I was smiling, don't worry.  He looked at it impassively and said, "I still have Thursday.....or maybe I'll just drape a huge American flag over it."  I love my smartass.

5.  When I got home last night the boys immediately ran to the other room and then came back slowly walking side by side with shy smiles and Owen's hands behind his back.  Owen was in charge of the presentation evidently, Leo stuck to the sweet, excited smiles.  Owen said, "Mom, we wanted to get you something for your birthday so here it is and...."  Then Leo cut him off before he could say anything else---evidently worrying that he was going to give it away....  Owen did ask me if I wanted help opening it but I said I could do it myself.  He took it pretty well.

And look....there it is....the Lego barbecue set I had admired and said I'd like to have.  I was SO happy and you should have seen the smiles on my sweet, sweet boys...  Notice the Lego flame under the little Lego grill.  Isn't it WONDERFUL? I mean TRULY wonderful?  My sweet peas.