A Birthday Party on Short-Notice

At the beginning of last week I was plotting how I could invite some friends over to see my garden, and how, as they were leaving I would thank them for coming to my birthday party. I hesitated to invite anyone though until I was sure I had enough time to clean up the patio area as it would be most convenient to have us sitting around the back steps. I got that done on Friday evening.

So Saturday morning, when I was about ready for breakfast I quickly emailed three friends at the same time, and phoned another one, asking him to invite another mutual friend, who doesn't have a phone, but with whom he has coffee most mornings at about 11 am.

I had already told Rita, my neighbour-friend about my plan when I went over to have a piece of her birthday angel-food cake to celebrate her birthday the week before.

Before I got to breakfast she had phoned to complain about the unfinished job of reshingling her roof, and though she had got a government grant for that job, she was not going to pay the boss until the job was done right. When she mentioned that the old shingles were in a dumpster parked in front of her house, I asked, "Oh, are they up for grabs?"

You see, about 13-14 years ago when I moved here, I'd passed a house on my way home from WTM where they were tearing off old shingles to do that roof again. I stopped. It occurred to me that those oild shingles would probably cover my path beside the house which is only 40" wide, and they would keep the weeds from coming up. So I'd called up to the men on the roof, "Are these garbage?"

One of the men called down, "Yep. Heading for the dump." I explained that I'd like to put them on a path to keep down the weeds. "Help yourself," he called down.

So I went home, got a cart, and loaded up the best-looking pieces and fixed up my path.

However, over the years, those pieces have broken up and slip and slide around and the path was mostly dirt now. I'd even gone looking to buy some the Saturday before, trying the Re-Store, and Home Depot. I found nothing suitable or affordable.

Well, Rita said I could have these but the man was coming to take away the dumpster at 3 pm, so I should hurry. I called Gary (my handyman cousin) and he joined me there, jumped in and threw down the best, newest looking shingles. I found I could pick up 3 at a time, so I carried them to the trunk of my car. When we got to my place, Gary carried to the path just inside the gate at the side of the house, and he started laying them out and arranging them neatly.

Soon that path looked like a nice carpeted path, or as if someone had cemented down two-tone grey paving stones! I found myself praising God for the nice birthday present!

I quickly heated a pizza from the freezer so Gary and I could have lunch. Then I went back to my main agenda for the day, making the big Saskatoon Berry Cheesecake, and a big bowl of potato salad, and so forth. The meat decision was easier when I concluded that I could pick up a bucket of KFC just a block away through the alley.

But I felt like I needed some fruit and maybe ice cream too, so I dashed from there to Giant Tiger which was just another block further on 22nd Street.

When I got back, Wayne had already arrived, and let himself through the gate. He was willing to help. So we spread some plastic tablecloths on an old weather-worn table. Then I started handing him trays of food from the back door for him to set out on the table.

Rita waited all day for that man (the boss) to show up so she could complain that the job had not been properly finished. She showed up a few minutes at 8 pm. but is still waiting for him to show up today (Tues.).

In the end, the other guests I had invited all showed up about 6 pm. Eugene, Gary, and Lynn brought Shirley and Gaynor who needed rides. Fortunately, I had just enough lawn chairs, in-door chairs and a stool for each of us.

Some even brought last minute gifts and cards. (I guess word got out that this was a birthday party). :)

In fact, another friend from church, Verna brought a big red shopping back full of gifts about mid-afternoon! (I don't recall ever telling her when my birthday is, so I'm not sure how she heard about it).

My long-time friend and prayer-sister, usually try to celebrate even briefly together the last week of July. We did that on Thursday, and I got a large bag full of a number of gifts!

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