Today was a family brunch for my cousin Emma – who is now 16. (With a diamond stud in her nose and a driver’s permit in her wallet to prove it.)
I’m not sure “sweet” sixteen is appropriate, because the O’Malleys are many many things – but … I would not say “sweet” is one of them. (Thank God. Who needs “sweet”?) LOUD, perhaps. Loving. Intelligent. Conversation filled with insults – people getting all riled up, people warned, “Don’t take the bait, don’t take the bait!” But someone always takes the bait.
“So where’s the loser?” my father called out to Emma – referring, lovingly, to Emma’s brother.
In the O’Malley family, “where’s the loser” translates as: “I miss Ian. I wish he were here. How is he doing?”
It was wonderful, though – My parents drove down, my uncle Tony, aunt Marianne – my uncle Tom, his wife Betsy – my unbelievably cute 3-year old cousin Grace (I asked her how old she was and she shouted, enthusiastically, “FREE!!”)- Grace had an enormous barrette in the front of her staticky hair, holding together about 5 strands of hair, and even with all her writhing about and running around – it never moved, it never fell out. My cousin Liam, his wife Lydia – my uncle Tom’s son Chris (it was his birthday too) and his girlfriend – my aunt Regina (Emma’s mom) – my cousin Kerry’s husband Adam … my sister Siobhan … Hm. Did I miss anyone?
We all convened on the Bowery Bar for brunch – to celebrate the 16th birthday of Emma.
Family is IT.
Family is all that matters.
Each and every person – precious to me.
Happy birthday Emma! And Chris!
“Family is IT.”
“Family is all that matters.”
Yup.
“Where’s the loser?” usually translates into the same thing in the McCabe family. I think it’s an Irish thing.
We never ask where the “loser” is. We usually ask where the Rockefellers are. My bother, his wife and four children always have some lame ass excuse for not showing up. It’s really irritating when you have 12 of thirteen children present for a family photo at one of these very frequent events. Still, family is definitely “IT” even when Stephen and Co. fail to show. (Hey, I’m a poet and I didn’t know it!)
Today is my Christopher’s birthday as well – he is 7!
Christopher is 7 … Heavens to Betsy.
I just brought cupcakes up to the school for Christopher to share with his class. He was sitting at a desk with his gold crown and a big laminated “7” around his neck. What is more precious than that?!
They still let you celebrate kids’ birthdays at school? Not here. Wouldn;t want to dsitract the kids from the “learning environment.”
Remember when classmates had birthdays? That was the best. Their moms, these strange creatures in their mom jeans and sneakers, would come in with decorated cupcakes and we’d all get to sing happy birthday. Great.
Since my birthday is usually on or around Thanksgiving I rarely got to have a party in school. Sadness. My birthday got lost in the pilgrims and Indians shuffle.
I just looked down at myself and I’m wearing mom jeans and sneakers – damn it!
I just looked down at myself and I’m wearing mom jeans and sneakers – damn it!
Bets –
At least you didn’t look down and see a bit of blue velvet.
Could not agree more about family. Have just returned “home” to mine after an absence of ten years and am enjoying every minute of it. Have discovered the strengths and successes of family in the companies I have worked for, Scholastic Childrens Books, Dollar General Distribution, Canteen Vending Services and Landshire Deli Sandwiches – all multi million dollar companies and still owned and run by the families that founded them. Another successful individual is Kathleen Madigan, the Irish comedian out of St Louis, who although she lives in L.A. drops everything for family events. Her family are her strength. I am learning this for myself now.
We had three birthdays this week – my older son,Conor(16) on 3/29 and my grandbabies lauren and Allan both 2 – Lauren on 3/29 and Allan today 4/2