Just before December gets wild and crazy with the Christmas pandemonium, our family marks two special days. And this year my husband and I were lucky enough to get to both.
My youngest granddaughter was six last week. It was a treat to see our special girl and her pals celebrate this momentous occasion.
The theme for the big day was Ghostbusters (it can never be anything easy, her dad grumbled). So the assorted munchkins made marshmallow ghosts, tried their hand at whipping up green slime and feasted on green-dyed marshmallow rice cereal treats. Later they each got three whacks at a ghostly piñata. (Mom has a great imagination even if Dad is a bit of a curmudgeon.)
Once the cake was eaten – complete with fancy candles that cost “infinity” dollars (actually the granddaughter’s savings) – it was time to open her cards. Two things about this ritual impressed me. First of all the invitation had specified no presents; guests could bring a toonie if they chose but nothing else was expected, so there was no mountains of presents. Secondly, she actually took the time to read each card. One of them with her name spelled out in glitter impressed her greatly. “Look how lucky they were to find a card with my name on it,” she told me. She has an unusual name so that really was a big deal.
And to be honest, the toonies were happily received, too. She planned to start a bank account with some of them and the rest would finance a shopping trip in the near future.
I wish everyone could be as happy as she was that day.
My eldest granddaughter marked 15 a couple of days ago. She’s almost six feet tall and has an artistic bent. She loves to draw, has a cat and dog that she dotes on and several friends with whom she giggles and texts. As befits a young woman of that advanced age, her birthday cash was a lot lighter in weight and heavier in denomination. Nevertheless she was happy we made the trip to Edmonton to see her and the party meant as much as the money.
In the blink of an eye, she’ll be an adult. I suspect she’ll always be loving and feisty. Family is key to her mom, a trait I hope her daughter inherits.
It’s too soon to even guess what the future has in store for these two. I think the world is changing for women. Girls are being taught to speak up, to not accept intolerable behaviour from men or other women in power. My wish is that neither will ever encounter bullying, but if they should, their Grandpa and I will work to make it right. I’ll bet my toonie on it.
