Golden Oldies

[Moments from the the aftermath and...what? premath? of Mom's birthday:]

[One of the "Silly Olympics" games conceived by my grandmother: Throw The Chicken. Here's the story: Mid-1980s. Summer. Lazy-ass Huntington sitting at home, watching (I have no doubt) the Today show, game shows like "Press Your Luck" ("No whammies!"), NBC's soaps (Days of our Lives, Another World, Santa Barbara) and Donahue. Mom calls from work in a panic, "I have company coming and forgot to take the chicken out of the freezer! Please take it out now!" I immediately forget, until about 15 minutes before Mom is due to arrive. I take out rock-hard chicken, set it on counter, and hope Mom will think it "just didn't thaw." Mom arrives on schedule, and in a rage, hurls with all the skill of her decades as a catcher in the Sonoma Valley Women's Softball League said frozen chicken at her one and only son. I duck, frozen chicken makes a small hole in the pantry door which may still be seen. Game: toss stuffed chicken at target as I recount story again and again.]

[I remark to Leah that the preponderance of guests are unattached ladies age 65 and above, and how that proves women really do live longer. Leah points out that this will probably be the last generation in which this is true, what with women of the next generation joining the out-of-home workforce in such numbers. I wonder at the connection, but it rings true.]

[Leah remarking on my boyfriend, happy as a clam is supposed to be, as he holds court among various groupings of these older women. "So stay on my arm, you little charmer."]

[Sitting up late the night before with Mom, Dad, Sis and John, listening to golden oldies, and hearing my sister declare she's REALLY ready to start having kids, already, but she and Mike are planning a trip to Africa first. I like the sound of "Uncle Bill" quite a lot.]

[My grandmother being very excited about the souvenir spoons John and I picked up for her at the Tower of London.]

[Springing Forward causing its usual disorientation.]

[My mother is 60. It doesn't seem nearly as old as it once did, to her or to me.]

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