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OF SHIPS & (BALLET) SHOES & QUEENS
[with apologies to Lewis Carroll.]
One of the great joys of grandmotherhood is getting to experience a lot of wonderful things all over again with the younger generation. This weekend, Amy's eighth birthday, I took her and another granddaughter, Autumn, to see the Nutcracker Ballet in Long Beach. I was delighted that the ballet was the same weekend as the birthday, because I wanted to make sure Amy's day didn't get lost in the great Christmas hustle and bustle; I wanted to celebrate it right. Autumn's mother, April, brought both girls into town on Saturday evening, and we were joined by a third granddaughter, Shannon, for dinner at a favorite pizza house. Then the birthday girl, Autumn and I went to see the ballet.
The Long Beach company always puts on a good show, with a gloriously expanding (and flashing) tree, a flying horse and sleigh, flying fairies, huge golden snowfalls, cannons and fireworks popping and dazzling all over the place – oh, and some pretty good dancing. In my childhood in London, we always went to the pantomime at Christmastime, but since that's not an American tradition, we've substituted the Nutcracker instead. (One year, we did The Glory of Christmas at the Crystal Cathedral, and that was spectacular too.) I think the girls enjoyed the Nutcracker; I know I did.
This morning, Amy's actual birthday, April came back into town and we celebrated the Fourth Sunday of Advent at St Luke's. I love the Advent ritual at my church, the seasonal decorations, all those great old pre-Christmas carols. April used to go to Sunday school at St Luke's, and Laurel, Amy's mom, was baptized there, so it's really "in the family." Then after the service, Shannon joined us again and we went for Sunday Brunch on board the Queen Mary. Almost like being on a cruise! The waiter served champagne for the grownups and sparkling cider for the kids, and Amy opened presents. The ship was decorated for the holidays – although it seemed to us that it was all for Amy's birthday.
Now the family has gone to their respective homes, and the dogs and I have a quiet evening ahead to relax in.
Oh, wait – I still have gifts to wrap!
One of the great joys of grandmotherhood is getting to experience a lot of wonderful things all over again with the younger generation. This weekend, Amy's eighth birthday, I took her and another granddaughter, Autumn, to see the Nutcracker Ballet in Long Beach. I was delighted that the ballet was the same weekend as the birthday, because I wanted to make sure Amy's day didn't get lost in the great Christmas hustle and bustle; I wanted to celebrate it right. Autumn's mother, April, brought both girls into town on Saturday evening, and we were joined by a third granddaughter, Shannon, for dinner at a favorite pizza house. Then the birthday girl, Autumn and I went to see the ballet.
The Long Beach company always puts on a good show, with a gloriously expanding (and flashing) tree, a flying horse and sleigh, flying fairies, huge golden snowfalls, cannons and fireworks popping and dazzling all over the place – oh, and some pretty good dancing. In my childhood in London, we always went to the pantomime at Christmastime, but since that's not an American tradition, we've substituted the Nutcracker instead. (One year, we did The Glory of Christmas at the Crystal Cathedral, and that was spectacular too.) I think the girls enjoyed the Nutcracker; I know I did.
This morning, Amy's actual birthday, April came back into town and we celebrated the Fourth Sunday of Advent at St Luke's. I love the Advent ritual at my church, the seasonal decorations, all those great old pre-Christmas carols. April used to go to Sunday school at St Luke's, and Laurel, Amy's mom, was baptized there, so it's really "in the family." Then after the service, Shannon joined us again and we went for Sunday Brunch on board the Queen Mary. Almost like being on a cruise! The waiter served champagne for the grownups and sparkling cider for the kids, and Amy opened presents. The ship was decorated for the holidays – although it seemed to us that it was all for Amy's birthday.
Now the family has gone to their respective homes, and the dogs and I have a quiet evening ahead to relax in.
Oh, wait – I still have gifts to wrap!
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