Mimi’s
birthday remains a holiday of epic proportions in these parts. Travels,
celebrations, balloons, culinary treats, and extravagant recitations of the
phrase, “It’s Mimi’s Birthday!” are not only necessary, but one might say,
mandatory.
For whatever
reason, my mother’s birthday does possess a bit of a magical quality about it
to my children. Perhaps it is because it marks the end of summer, and a seeming
last chance for raucous cheers and merriment, but I cannot express in words the
sheer excitement this day creates in them.
As you
recall, last year’s cavorts to the zoo were discussed in great detail for
months afterwards. This year only begged the question, what can top last year’s
impressionable carnival of animal delight?
In short, a
train ride.
Yesterday we rode
the Strasburg Railroad and ventured back in time on the coal-burning steam engines
of yesteryear. Darling glass windows, plush velvet seats, and whistles of departure
greeted us at the station, of which I was highly disappointed to see no
platform 9 ¾ . Alas, we boarded and found our seats, as Cutter determined to
squeeze the life out of my hand in trepidation of what lie ahead. He is nothing
if he is not his mother. He had some anxieties about what was to happen, but
after explaining the workings of the trains, the sounds he would hear, and the
movements he would feel, he eased and switched between Mimi’s lap and mine
while we waited for the “All aboard!”
He was
enamored with the similarities to no, not Thomas, but Dinosaur Train. He
enjoyed pointing out the conductor and the different parts of the train where
we were sitting. The conductor’s voice rang out and we were on our way. He was
initially discouraged by the wind (it was surprisingly chill for an August day
in the northeast) and swaying of the train, but once that passed he was
intrigued and in awe.
Scout was
nonplussed by the whole thing and amazed me by her content demeanor throughout.
Oh, child, I love thee.
We ended our
ride through the corn-filled Amish countryside, and headed for lunch at the Red
Caboose Motel. My mom was intent on making this part of the day, as it bore intimate
memories for her. When I was young, my mom, sister, and great-grandmother took
me on the railroad and we all had lunch at the Red Caboose. To add that to the
day’s festivities made it an undeniable tradition.
Both children
promptly fell asleep in the car making it a legendary successful holiday;
verity I admire and crave!
Last night, my mother and I were able to sneak out
and get pedicures together and have some girl time one on one. Such time is
rare in these parts and days of child-rearing, but oh so beneficial when it
happens. I treated her for her special day, and we compared polished toes. Gold,
by the way, was the color of choice. Delightful, and a party on my feet that I
enjoy seeing every time I look down at the seeming myriad of children stepping
all over them all day long.
Today, on
Mimi’s actual birthday, we had a dinner fit for a summer queen; ice cream
sundaes for all. Mom has been eating gluten free for some time now, and we can
never all agree on a meal that serves the 7 of us the same. Ice cream sundaes
seemed to clear that disparity, well, immediately.
I did a
topping bar with some of the current favorites in these parts: hot fudge,
caramel sauce, strawberries, bananas, sprinkles (or jimmies – you be the
judge), walnuts, reese’s sprinkles, gummy bears, m&m’s, and homemade
whipped cream.
Ice cream for
dinner allows me to check another item off of my summer bucket list, and the
kids think we’re all amazing for allowing them to eat gummy bears and slurp ice
cream for dinner. I’d say Mimi’s birthday gaiety only made them anticipate next
year’s holiday with that much more enthusiasm and intensity.
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