The Wasserman Times

August 7, 2011

The Birthday Party: downpour, hamburgers and everyone I have ever met in Maine all under one roof.

When I awoke that morning I found Yale, Sue, Karen and Amy already hard at work in the kitchen throwing together dishes in a frenzy of activity. Amelia had foolishly gotten up a little earlier and had already been conscripted into service, so to avoid the same fate I volunteered to assemble a new charcoal grill outside. It was as I was sitting on a cooler out front mulling over the box of tiny pieces and pictures that were supposed to be a grill when it started to rain. At first it was just a sprinkle and so, in good Oregonian fashion, I ignored it. A few spatters on the instructions didn't really matter because they're single-use anyway, but the rain kept getting harder. By the time the pages of the booklet were starting to become very soggy, Philip (who had also joined me outside to escape food duty) and I reluctantly carried the pieces into the garage to finish assembly.

Eventually I did manage to put the poorly made Chinese grill together despite the manufacturer's best efforts otherwise, but by this point the rain was coming down steadily. Not only that but the first of the cars had begun to arrive. With around thirty people coming to the party we had already decided the driveway wasn't going to cut it, so as people arrived I was directing them out into the side-yard (really just a big grassy field next to the house). The first few cars I just pointed out where they should park, but after the first old man came into the house completely drenched I felt so bad that I borrowed an umbrella and began walking it out to people as they parked their cars. It was kind of fun and made me feel a little like a valet.

The birthday kids.

Despite the bad weather, the party was still a great success. There were burgers, hot dogs, green salad, potato salad, chips, dips, cookies (ask Amy Thompson about her Ritz cracker cookies) and two very lovely carrot cakes. After everyone had eaten their fill (and more), everyone gathered in the dining room and sang happy birthday for my grandma Charlotte and my grandpa Jack. One cake had an “8” on it and the other a “0”. In addition each cake had a star-shaped candle, according to my uncle Yale, to represent the next decade. It was a lovely gesture in what was entirely a wonderful affair. I do fear that I may be eating leftover hamburgers and hummus for the rest of the week though as there was enough food for fifty.