Opa Turns 86!

We began celebrating Opa's birthday at 4:00 p.m. on August 13th.

As Opa'd requested, there were rouladen and spaetzle, followed by cake and coffee. But what Opa seemed to enjoy the most, besides the presents, were the Elder Flower Martinis that we had before dinner.

Since Opa had eaten more than usual earlier that day, I didn't expect the martinis to have the effect that they did. Oops! And I worried that Opa might not make it to dinner, but I underestimated his stamina.

Opa was in great spirits for the entire day, laughing, joking and celebrating as one does when it's someone's birthday. Whose birthday it was, Opa wasn't sure. But it didn't matter to him in the least.

There was only one little glitch and that was when I decided to ask our tipsy Opa how he felt about turning 86.

It was just a momentary glitch. Memory loss was a definite advantage for Opa who quickly recovered from the shock and continued celebrating until midnight when his "63rd" birthday officially came to an end.

Happy 86th birthday, Opa, our dear father, grandfather, uncle and friend! Sto Lat!

Table

I wake up this morning to find that Opa has set the table during the night. There are four place settings perfectly arranged.

 

There is also a candy in a wrapper on one of the plates, a funnel in one of the three juice glasses, a ceramic bowl and two stacked glass bowls, a straw trivet, and four shot glasses (!). 

It reminds me of this poem --

Table

A man filled with the gladness of living

Put his keys on the table,

Put flowers in a copper bowl there.

He put his eggs and milk on the table.

He put there the light that came in through the window,

Sounds of a bicycle, sound of a spinning wheel.

The softness of bread and weather he put there.

On the table the man put

Things that happened in his mind.

What he wanted to do in life,

He put that there.

Those he loved, those he didn't love,

The man put them on the table too.

Three times three make nine:

The man put nine on the table.

He was next to the window next to the sky;

He reached out and placed on the table endlessness.

So many days he had wanted to drink a beer!

He put on the table the pouring of that beer.

He placed there his sleep and his wakefulness;

His hunger and his fullness he placed there.

Now that's what I call a table!

It didn't complain at all about the load.

It wobbled once or twice, then stood firm.

The man kept piling things on.
 

 ~ by Turkish poet, Edip Cansever

Breakfast for Michael the Cat

Now that Opa has finished his course of antibiotics, he is definitely feeling better. It shows, not only in his mood but also in his creativity. He's back to preparing interesting meals, not only for himself and me but also for Michael the Cat.

This morning, Michael was treated to a bowl of dry, uncoooked, soup noodles with a side of crumbled chicken bouillon cubes.

I thought this was pretty clever since, unlike the other cat meals that Opa has lovingly prepared (like sandwiches, cheese wedges, pudding, bananas, mango juice, cereal, milk, and bowls of sugar), the ingredients of this one were closer to those of commercial cat food.

But as usual, Michael would have none of it. The expression on his face this morning was like "Seriously?"

Unlike Opa, Michael knows exactly where his cat food is. It's in the kitchen, steps from his food and water bowls. He'll even show you if you forget.   

He probably showed Opa, too, but his efforts were obviously ignored.  

Opa Makes Lunch

So Opa surprised me today by making lunch: a delicious relish sandwich for me and an equally delicious butter (no, that's not cheese) sandwich for himself. Yum!

Opa being normal...

On Father's Day, Opa was in great spirits. He was also a little tipsy. So he gleefully went along with my niece when she suggested he play a little dress up. 

 

 

When she asked Opa if he had any advice for her, he said, "Yes, you should always be normal!"

 

Of course, we laughed because Opa wasn't exactly following his own advice that evening. But then he added, "By normal, I mean always be yourself. Never try to be someone you are not."

Sage advice as usual, Opa.

Michael the Cat

"Bananas? Really?"

Opa Chef for Cats

Opa goes through periods of heightened creativity, particularly at night when the rest of the house is asleep. One of the activities he likes to do is prepare interesting and nutritious breakfasts for our cat Michael. Sometimes he forgets that our cat Mia passed away this summer and will prepare breakie for two.

Recently, there were two bowls of milk garnished with fresh sliced strawberries along side the regular bowl of cat food. Michael ignored the strawberries and milk.

   
The next day, there was more of a variety: bread soaked in milk, orange juice, leftover vegetable pulp from the juicer, and a liverwurst sandwich cut up into bite size pieces.

 

 

As usual, Michael ignored the tasty offerings and went straight for his cat food.

 

 



On the third day, there was a cup of sugar, a bowl of mango juice, a caramel pudding cup, a bowl of sugar, and two wedges of Laughing Cow cheese.

 

Only this time, Opa decided to remove the bowl of cat food, presumably to entice Michael to sample the latest breakfast smorgasbord. Michael was not pleased.

 

Happy Thanksgiving