"To be 70 years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be 40 years old." (Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.) I don't think anyone can do 70 years young any better than my brother-in-law, Gene.
A few days ago Kristi invited us over for homemade ice cream and fresh peach pie to help celebrate her Dad's birthday. He didn't want a big to-do. A Sunday night supper seemed about right for him.
Nothing was said about presents, but I knew I wanted to give him something to mark the special day.
I don't know how I remembered that at one time he had collected red glass. I confirmed with Kristi that he still had his collection, but hadn't added a new piece for a long time. I knew there was a reason I didn't sell my old Anchor Hocking Royal Ruby pitcher at the farm sale. "This 'small ball pitcher with ice lip' would be perfect for him", I thought.
So this morning I went out to get it off the top shelf in the garage - and it wasn't there! A scan of all the shelves didn't reveal the box I knew it was in. The hunt was on. Every box and Rubbermaid container was searched. Shelves were straightened as I went along - a job I've been planning on 'getting around to' for some time. Finally, when almost every shelf had been searched, I found the right box.
I think Gene liked the pitcher. Didn't he one time many years ago kid me about giving it to him? The time had to be right - and what could be more right than marking a 70th birthday and 49 years of having this cheerful man in the family?
"With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come." (Shakespeare - Merchant of Venice)
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