...that can make even the eldest among us recover some qualities of childhood.
I brought home a chocolate cake for the two of us to celebrate Berni's birthday with Mario and Roberto on the 16th. Lacking birthday candles (I have yet to figure out where those are sold here), I adorned the cake with just a few of the festive paper-and-toothpick umbrellas that Mom had keenly included in her recent care package. As I ceremoniously entered the dining room, and before the cake had even reached the table, 93-year-old Roberto--who had obviously rapidly scanned the number of umbrellas on the cake and then done a quick head-count at the table-- said, "But don't we each get an umbrella?" He was dead serious. I tried not to betray my surprise as I quickly reassured him that I would be happy to go without one on my piece, which seemed to satisfy the men of the family, who each summarily adorned his birthday slice with one of the tropical-motif umbrellas. They crack me up. And also remind me why birthdays should be well-celebrated at all ages. (Roberto subsequently asked for a second helping of cake, specifically one of the slices with the candied cherries on top. I am not kidding.)
2 comments:
Yah!!! So true. I would love to look down my nose at your men's childish sentiments toward birthday cake, had I not experienced the exact same phenomenon myself. I mean, I am this supposed organic Nazi. Carefully screening everything that goes in my pre-schoolers body, eating holistic coconut oil to enrich my breast milk with essential fatty acids, etc. Nonetheless, I was at a baby shower last weekend and I was like a four year old as I plastic spooned big spoonfuls of artificially-colored Costco cake into my smiling mouth. Like you say, "there is something about cake..."
Alex! Hello long lost friend! Just wanted to say that I happily have found your blog and am having such fun tracking your adventures... and the pregnancy! We are almost at the same point--I am due with baby boy #3 August 4th!! Blessings to you as I know how much you all are greatly anticipating your little one's arrival!!
And regarding cake, we go bananas in Gasperini-Ville for the stuff. My parents have, in fact, begun celebrating every one of our visits with cake. We never seem to lack reasons for including lots of fluff and frosting in the mix... :)
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