[Yet another early morning entry. I love the mornings, when I can work at my desk while the rest of the family sleeps away. Before the formal entry, I wanted to note that my remembrance entry was also an early morning entry, and thus it was very stream of consciousness. If anyone took any offense at what I wrote, that was not intended, and if for some reason you perceive an offense, please let me know, and I’ll fix the words to make it clear that no offense was intended.]
Yesterday was a lovely day, an island in the storm. Even before my father’s passing, we had planned yesterday as (a) a birthday party for my daughter, and (b) a day of gaming for me. We knew my father would have wanted those plans to continue, so they did.
The day started with my daughter’s party. She had a tea party for a number of her friends. Both of her grandmothers attended as well. From what I heard (I only help set up, and then disappeared), she had a lovely time. They make orange/clove pomander balls, had tea and cookies and pie, and had a great time. Her grandmother gave her a ring of my dads that she wanted on a gold chain to remember him by. After the party, she came (together with ellipticcurve to the Games Gather.
I had left for the Games Gather shortly before the party began, bringing my “nephew” (actually, 2nd cousin once-removed; my father’s brother’s grandchild) with me. He hadn’t played board games before, thinking “Pigmania” was a good game. We have a convert. He had a delightful day, playing loads of new games and loving them. His favorite was Puerto Rico, followed by Dragon Delta and Ticket to Ride.
When S&F, ellipticcurve, and the rest of the family arrived at the Games Gather, we pulled out the present we had for my daughter: Munchkin Bites. Total surprise. She was bouncing happy; she had not expected it (and is the only one in our Munchkin circle to have the game). She received another surprise later in the day, when she won a copy of Blue Moon from the prize table.
We played lots of games (I’m combining all players): Dragon Delta (2×), Blue Moon, Ticket to Ride (2×), Munchkin Bites (2×), 10 Days in the USA, Mamma Mia, Puerto Rico, and Power Grid.
It was just a wonderful day of destressing (well, mostly… my arm was acting up again… I think Monday I’ll see if I can get a prescription for some muscle relaxants). Today, the real world comes back, and after getting my daughter to religious school, it is time to start making phone calls. We will be getting family together for the family part of the birthday party this weekend.
