This past Tuesday evening Judy and I met Corey, Tia, and Lily at Wasabi’s to celebrate his birthday.
The meeting was arranged by his mother, Connie, as is always the case. Also attending was Gary, Connie’s husband, 
her father, Dub and his date Mary Lois, and long time mutual friends Betty Anne and Squeaky.
The food kept coming and we all felt like we would pop. It was entertainingly prepared by a skilled Japanese chef, who performed all the expected tricks, like the flaming volcano, flipping an egg around and 
then cracking it in mid-air on the side of the spatula, and tossing a ball of rice into each of our gaping mouths!
I love to watch them prepare the shrimp, scallops, steak, and chicken with quick sharp cuts, and then quickly add in the seasonings. It takes a lot of patience to move around that mound of rice, vegetables, and eggs, but it all winds up so temping on your plate.
Lily was scared by a huge ball of flame the chef created on the grill, so from then on he warned her before any further pyrotechnics!
Afterward, we were all 
invited to Connie and Gary’s for birthday cake, ice cream, and coffee/punch. It was the first time I had been back in that house in over 30 years. After the horrible experience of building that house, it holds no special sentiments for me, but things had changed and it looked very lovely.
We played a very heated and animated game of Win, Lose or Draw, with us men being constantly accused of cheating. I don’t know how they came to that conclusion, but when it was all over the men came out on top!
It is a great feeling to know that all the old animosities, insecurities, and fears are gone. We’ve all grown beyond that silly stage. It’s a good feeling to see your first wife and your current wife interacting as friends and enjoying each other’s company.
We were long over these things before Lily came along, but she is now a bonding force for us and with a new one on the way, our lives can only become more intertwined. There is no doubt in my mind that we all look forward to that future.
Anyway, happy birthday son, and thank you too for being such a binding force in our lives.
13 comments:
What an awesome post Mushy (not your real name), I think by now you have an idea of how I feel about family and family unitiy. How awesome that not only old wounds have healed but it seems that the scars have now fallen completeley off.
A happy birthday wish to Corey from yours truly.
I dunno---I kinda like my food to stay non-airborne, for MY sake...!
Is that Dub in the orange shirt? I've got to tell you something funny. When I first saw the photo, without my glasses on, I thought he was wearing some sort of Fred Flintstone costume.
Go ahead. Squint a bit and look at it.
No? OK, maybe I'm drunk.
34, just a pup.
I remember thinking 30 was getting old...lol, what I wouldn't give.
No Sul, that's Squeaky, but I see it!
Mushy-
you are the best and i just love your heart. you always make me smile or bring a sentimental tear to my eye. It is nice to hear that you are able to bond as a full family and put the past behind you and embrace the future!
That's a wonderful post! It's sooooo cooool to see everything in your life coming together in this way, like wrapping all of thiose posts in life story in a nice neat bow. It's really cool, and a testament to all your hard work and the good job you and others have done to build that family. I'm very envious. I think sometimes that my family is destined to break apart and spiral off in an ugly way, and there's nothing I can do about it. Congratulations to Cory and you and everyone for figuring out how to get it right. Ii love to see it.
Next time you republish the book, slip this post in as a postscript. It'd fit nicely.
A great time for you Mushy and I'm so happy for you.
"Age" is an evil thief, stealing things from us so gradually, we don't realize it until it's too late. But "Time" sometimes gives us things back, makes things right.
Debbie Hamilton
Right Truth
How very insightful Debbie...I agree and am thankful.
A Belated Happy Birthday to Corey, and good on ya for burying that hatchet, Mushy.
This is such a heartwarming read Mushy, if only all folk could take along the good and find a way to leave behind the bad.. your son is a handsome devil, isn't he (and so very blessed to have a set of parents who truly love him so dearly)..
Shrinky...I've missed you!
Wow, it's great you guys can get past all the "stuff" and be a loving family.
I LOVE playing Win, Lose or Draw. Even though none of us can draw. That makes it even more fun;)
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