Six years ago today…

Posted By: Kathleen DavidPosted On:

Caroline showed up to play. Snow was falling, as it has every year on her birthday except–for the first time–this one.

We took her to Friendly’s for her birthday dinner. Sunday will be her party.

PAD

36 comments on “Six years ago today…”

  1. Good Lord, that child is inhumanly cute. Please allow me to repeat what I said on Kathleen’s entry: Happy Birthday, Caroline!

  5. I hope your daughter has a wonderful birthday! When you are a kid, there are few things more magical than a birthday – I sure she will enjoy it.

  11. Wow. I still remember your announcement of the “special project” like it was yesterday.

    Happy Birthday, Caroline!

  12. This seems impossible. Like Nytwyng says, I’m pretty sure I remember reading about her being born just a little while ago. 6 years?

    Happy birthday to one of the world’s cutest kids!

  20. We got some snow in Queens Saturday night so perhaps you did as well, and didn’t mess with a good thing.

  22. “Sweeeeeeet Caroline……..”

    Hope you enjoy six as much as my nephew Sal is, Caroline. Happy Birthday. 🙂

  23. She’s six already?

    Man, I’m old!

    Man, I’ve been reading your blog for over six years!

  24. but now we are six,
    we’re as clever as clever!
    I think we’ll stay six now
    for ever & ever!

    sorry, someone had to (& i’m not even sure that’s the right words. i found a couple slightly different versions googling). i hope that someone dragged out the a.a. milne for her.

  26. Miriam? Go ye forth and find a copy of Moon Boots and Dinner Suits by Jon Pertwee. The gamekeeper at the Pertwee estate was A.A. Milne, and the future Doctor played with Christopher Robin Milne.

    Miles

  28. You’re thinking of McFriendly’s, Nick — Friendly’s is a real place and has been for decades.

  30. What I remember most about friendly’s–besides the fact that my late grandmother loved the place and would take us there often–is that they did not have Coke or Pepsi. They had Friendly Cola. And they would sometimes get kind of, well, unfriendly, if you asked for Coke or Pepsi. Cleary, the workers there were told in no uncertain terms that they would open up the company to lawsuits if they treated “a coke” as a simple request for a cola. So you would ask for a coke and they would snarl back “It’s Friendly Cola!” in a tone that would suggest strongly that the word “douchebag” should be added.

    Anyway, after a few years they threw in the towel and just switched to Coke and Pepsi. My friends and I made it a point to, at every opportunity, ask for Friendly Cola.

    In our defense, other than having the great Joe Sinnott in town, Saugerties new York offered few chances for honest amusement.

  31. When I was four years old I threw up in the booth at a Friendly’s in Greece, N.Y. It wasn’t the food; I had a stomach virus. Later I threw up in the upstairs hallway at home, and in my bed. It was quite a day for me, and even worse for my parents who had to clean up after me.

    Obviously, I hope young Caroline had a more enjoyable experience. Aside from that one unfortunate incident in 1974, I’ve always enjoyed Friendly’s food and it’s a nice place to take children when they’re not vomiting.

  32. A little while back Kathleen ran a thread where posters were able to ask Ariel and Caroline questions. May I ask Caroline what she got for her birthday?

    As an aside, I have a niece, Maddie, who is a year younger than Caroline and I got her what I can best describe as an arts and crafts “machine.” Maddie can use it to cut paper into different shapes and make things like greeting cards.

    I think it’s going over better than the “Busy Ball Popper” (yes, that’s what it’s called) I got Maddie two years ago. The latter toy involved air shooting through tubes to move plastic balls around. Often the plastic balls ended up under furniture, or underfoot.

    A year prior to that, I gave Maddie a little stuffed toy that made noise whenever any motion nearby caused sufficient vibrations. It turned out to be more sensitive than I’d imagined it would be. My sister claimed the batteries wore out surprisingly quickly, but I suspect the toy ran afoul of a hammer or something.

    Maddie loved both toys, but I’m not sure my sister and brother-in-law were as appreciative.

  33. Nieces and nephews are God’s way of offering us the opportunity for payback. Did your sister ever pester you as a child? Of course she did! She’s your sister! So get Maddie that 12,000 piece bead maker or Little Miss Arc Welder or whatever you think will cause the most trouble. Or really up the ante and let her explore her musical side with a drum set. What’s your sister gonna do–get your cat a rifle?

  34. I read something years ago to the tune of “beware your child’s uncle — he will give your child gifts of alcohol, air horns, and matches.” I’m definitely not getting the quote right, but that’s the idea.

    I do like Little Miss Arc Welder, though — that’s an awesome idea. Right up there with Joan of Arc Barbie (wood not included).

  35. alcohol, air horns, and matches…that’s a GREAT combo. Actually that would be an amusing idea for a gift–The Ultimate Uncle Present. Something that combines as many pieces, noise, kid enjoyment, batteries and that hard to define parental disapproval quality that just screams “Yeah, Lisa, remember the time you broke one of my toys in a record 12 seconds from the time I opened it up? Ever think about it? I do, sister Lisa, I do…

    (Note–this bit is based on an actual true story involving my sister Lisa and a toy that was basically a car track with a grove in the center that contained a spring. The spring moved, dragging a car that had a tab which fit into said spring. The aforementioned Lisa went to look at this and got her hair promptly entangled in the spring and yanked her head back, irreparably bending he spring, as opposed to the obvious Plan B which would have been to cut a chunk of her hair out. It would grow back, which I can assure you is NOT the case with toy springs. 12 seconds. Yep.)

    (Lisa went on to become a wonderful Special Ed teacher and the parent of 5 kids, all of whom turned out great, despite my best efforts.)

  36. Bill Mulligan: “What’s your sister gonna do–get your cat a rifle?”

    I’m not certain that’s as far-fetched as you think. One of my cats has learned to open up certain drawers and scoop out with his paw things he’d like to play with. I shudder to think about what else might be within his capabilities.

    Also, two of my cats were quite angry with me early last week. I bathed them. I ended up bleeding from one of my earlobes as a result. They’re quite strong for their size, very determined, and capable of great violence.

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