THE MORE THINGS CHANGE

Lindsay's sister Is about to give birth. Lindsay's mother has cancelled Easter dinner.

Lindsay is Stephanie's friend. She has purchased a turkey. Stephanie the makings and the two are happily occupied in my kitchen. Music is playing and they are singing along. 

"Can you open the oven" Lindsay cries and in the turkey slides.

I am in my big comfy chair ,enjoying a glass of red wine and called upon occasionally for my renowned expertise. 

Do you  have string Grannie or what do we  do with giblet thingies ? 

I have whatever and I know all the answers. 

A pale blue cake iced and decorated with robin sized Easter eggs adorns the table. 

Grand-daughter Robyn in Newmarket has posted a  picture of a dark chocolate cake of her making, mounded high with candy coated Cadbury eggs  They are my favorites. It may be, they are everybody's favourite and eaten by the handful. 

Five year old Clair in Gig Harbour ,Washington declares the cake to be yummy. They will be back soon. Can't save any cake though. 

Dinner  to-morrow at Heather's house. To-morrow is my son Frank's birthday. We do not speak of which.

The gathering is smaller this year for a variety of reasons. Smaller numbers ,in the tens, means a sit-down meal can be planned. I can't remember when that happened last.

I do remember  though the first outing with the new baby and  3 year old Stephen. Swimgs at Paddington Green were the destination.

The brothers and sisters will  be together again tomorrow to celebrate an unbroken chain of more than sixty years.

I wasn't thinking of that all those years and thousands of miles distant. But I was fairly proud of myself all the same.