The sun shone. The picnic group gathered. The birthday boy arrived. And we all settled in to celebrate Gordon’s 86th in ‘the usual manner’ – with plenty to eat and drink, a plethora of silly cards and presents and, above all, lots of nonsensical conversation and laughter.
Our basic picnic group has been gathering for almost forty years. It used to be that we’d have a picnic at the drop of a hat – because the sun came out all of a sudden or because someone was in the mood to fry some chicken. Phone calls were made, the picnic basket fluffed up, and away we went to the designated destination.
Over the years, we’ve not only lost some of the original picnickers, but we’ve lost most of our original spontaneity. We mostly gather for special occasions and the group is expanding to include new faces. But the basic premise is the same: get together and have a good time.
It used to be, too, that we each had a ‘funny drawer’ which supplied an endless array of really dumb gifts should the occasion call for one. Nowadays, those inane presents are harder to come by. Most of us are at the time of life when downsizing seems de rigueur and the funny drawer has been the first to go. Or we can’t remember where we put the funny drawer…
So, yesterday Gordon scored at least one ‘real’ gift, as well as a few questionable items that perhaps were more from a discard pile than the funny drawer. However, Betsy supplied a cake with a magnificent folding, assemble-yourself, plastic candelabra. It was THE BEST, especially because it will probably make the birthday-picnic round for years to come.
Unless Gordon puts it in one of those “safe” places never to be discovered again…
A fun read….I seem to have forgotten where I put spontaneity! A good reminder for me that all does not need to be planned and prepared for a week in advance. Thank you.