We Went To A Birthday Party Yesterday

My daughter drove two hours to her friend's house for her birthday. Abby just turned 52. I was invited. It turns out I am related to her mother. According to Ancestry, her mother is related to my son-in-law's children from Alaska too.

Abby is an Ojibwe, her mother is enrolled in Red Lake, and my granddaughter and great-grandson are Yupik. It seems to me that Abby's mother is related to every Native person we know. It sure is a small world. Or it is just very interesting and needs more investigation.

On our ride over, I hear from the back seat a serious comment from the great-grandson, "My neck just farted". I asked, but have no idea what he was talking about, unless his neck cracked?? Kids say the darndest things.

I had a stop to make to drop off my brother's birthday present. My husband gave him a service telescope. Old, heavy thing that I don't know why anyone would want. It was a hit with my brother. He checked it out right away and exclaimed, "There are even numbers on it!"

I told him John said if he tires of it, he can give it to his son. He said then that he loves old army stuff. My husband was in the army, but he got the scope from his son and is working on decluttering a little at a time. He thought the scope might be better than his binoculars.

My brother's wife just died recently, and it would have been her birthday today. He had just picked up a birthday cake and ice cream per their daughter's request. I sent a small gift home with him for his daughter and his son too, and told him I thought celebrating her birthday was good to do this year. He told me they are all depressed right now.

When we arrived at the party, there were several party goers there already, and someone asked the great-grandson who his favorite grandma is. He quickly looked at me. He didn't say anything, but it was clear who his favorite is.

Later, my daughter, his grandmother, tried to explain I am his great- grandmother, when his auntie said, "Who is your favorite grandma?" and again he looked my way! Enough of that. Then someone quietly said, "You will have to work on that," to my daughter!

What is wrong with me being his favorite? It is usually Grandpa who is the grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's favorite! My daughter is the one who disciplines him and her 11-year-old daughter when they aren't listening to his mom. He does listen to his Grandma.

I don't have to do any disciplining, just loving, so that is why he I am his favorite right now.

I knew going to the party might be difficult in terms of the food. And it was. The meat doesn't have many carbohydrates, but everything else was loaded. I am watching my carbohydrate count right now.

So I ate a small amount of fruit, beans, potato salad, and then had 3 BBQ ribs. No cake, ice cream, or corn on the cob. I'm sure I was over for this day. I didn't dare add up those carbs. I'm doing better today!

Today, I was with friends at water ceremony, and a grandmother invited her daughter and granddaughter. Children are so precious and we talked about the importance of praying for the water for our children and grandchildren and future generations.

The little girl talked about being on the radio with an announcer that loves frogs. She said he showed her frogs that she had never seen before and they talked about them on the radio. She was all excited. Her mother then told us when it would be on the radio, so that we may listen to the interview.