Where do you suppose I put those darn paints? Sandi spoke to herself as she pushed aside several containers of out of season clothing, I just know I put them in here somewhere. Sandi had finally decided what she was going to do for Susan’s birthday gift.
It had been almost two years since she had gotten out her paint supplies, but, with little money to work with, she had to do something, and she wanted it to be special.
When she was in high school her art teachers told her she was quite talented. She even won a statewide competition her Junior year, winning a blue ribbon and a gift certificate for an oil painting of her little sister Beth and brothers Tyler and Jacob. She had done the painting for her mother, trying to please her, but she told Sandi it didn’t even look like the kids and before long her mother had put it in the back of a closet.
Sandi never let on how much it had hurt her feelings. She always tried so hard to make her mom happy, but nothing she ever did was good enough! Sandi had thought the painting would be something special. That was the last time she had even tried pleasing her mother.
She hoped this time it would be different…
Finally! Sandi pulled out a box filled with tubes of paint and brushes of different sizes and shapes. Behind the box were several canvas-covered boards. She picked out the largest and, pushing other things aside, she made her way out of the dark attic and back down the ladder that she had propped against the opening in the bedroom ceiling.
Sandi stepped into the small bedroom the girls had been sharing and checked on Annie, who was napping peacefully. Yawning herself, she headed back into the other room to start her project. Naps would be out for the next couple of weeks. She set her canvas on a kitchen chair and contemplated where to start.
She knew exactly what she would paint. It was a matter of getting it done, in just the right way, and it excited her just to think which colors she would use as well as which brushes would give her the effects she wanted.
The first day of June dawned bright and cloudless. The smell of the climbing rose bush outside Susan’s window was intoxicating. Today was her birthday, and she could not remember feeling so good. Not in a long while, anyway. She felt giddy, almost like when she was a girl.
Jill and the boys had always been good about doing something special for her on her birthdays, which usually culminated in going out to supper at Lovella’s, but today was going to be extra special. It had been a very long time since the family had gone on a real picnic! She did wish that Jillian and Tom could have been there, but that couldn’t be helped. They were doing what they felt called to do, and that was ok with her.
Teddy was planning to pick her up at 11:00, and they would meet the others at the park a short time later. The picnic was at a beautiful little park about 20 minutes from home. There were exquisitely maintained flower gardens and a small lake, and in case it showered, there was a large shelter house right next to the playground area.
Her brother Will was coming from Pittsburg and her younger sister Anna would be there, along with her family and friends from nearby. Will and Anna were the only siblings living a reasonable driving distance from Summerset Hills. The others lived out of state, except her sister Pauline, who now lived at a full-time nursing facility.
Susan had always been close to Pauline, and it was hard accepting the fact that after her stroke a year ago, she would never be able to live on her own again. Occasionally she did get to go on outings, but recently she had been sick and was unable to come. Susan would visit later in the week and tell her all about the day.
Susan was next to the youngest of nine siblings. It had been a number of years since she had even seen some of them. Sadly, the last time they had all been together was at the funeral of their sister Elizabeth four years ago.
She decided that today she would not let the world and its problems get her down. Today would be a day of happiness.
It appeared that everyone was already waiting when Bill and Susan pulled into the gravel parking area of Willow Brook Park. Bill’s Lincoln was parked close to the shelter house with the trunk open. Her brother’s Caddie and Julie’s little red Corvette was there as was the black Silverado that belonged to Sandi’s special friend. Several small children were chasing around picnic tables setting around in the lush spring grass.
A tall, distinguished-looking man with silver-white hair walked toward the car, an arm around Samantha. “Uncle William!” Bill said as he reached out to shake the older man’s hand. “It’s so good to see you. It certainly has been a long time.”
“Too long I’m afraid, young man. Aunt Molly and I were just talking about that the other day.”
He pulled his sister to him and gave her a hug. “Happy Birthday, Sis! How is my prettiest little sister doing? Have you discovered the fountain of youth? You look younger every time I see you!”
Susan laughed. “Right! You are so silly, Will. I guess brothers never change?”
“I must say, you look lovely in gray hair, Sis!” He laughed and holding her hand, they headed together over to the shelter house where everyone was waiting for the “Guest of Honor” to arrive.
Soon the entire group of people was surrounding Susan, and for the next two hours, the laughter and visiting never let up for a minute. The food was delicious, and there was so much of it! Everyone thought they were going to burst before they quit eating!
Three long tables covered with colorful cloths had been set with plates and platters of good things to eat. It seemed like every person there had brought at least one of their favorite picnic foods and some had brought several things. The hardest part was choosing among the fried chicken, grilled hamburgers, or the taco salad. There were scalloped potatoes and potato salads. There was fresh fruit, pies, cookies, and of course, a large birthday cake that Mary and Susan’s cook Joan had collaborated to design. To top everything off, Mary had pestered Bill until he finally dug the old hand-cranked ice-cream freezer out and dusted it off so the girls could make ice cream.
It was a grand party indeed!
Bill really didn’t object as much as he let on. One of the last memories he had of his father was when he was five years old, cranking the same-old freezer, standing between his dad’s legs, his small hand covered by the larger hand of his father. It was a special memory that he would always hold close to his heart.
“Come on over here and sit down, Mom. It’s time to open presents!”
“My, oh my! This is my favorite part!” Susan clapped her hands like a little girl, and everyone laughed.
The children gathered in a semicircle in front of Susan while the adults sat in lawn chairs and on picnic benches to watch the festivities.
First, there was a beautiful antique brooch; this was from Ted and Julie. Little Danny presented her with a picture he had colored of a very old lady in a rocking chair. “This is for you, Grandmother Susan.”
“Why Danny, I think it’s lovely. She has very pretty purple hair.”
“I know,” said Danny proudly. “Purple is my favorite color. I told Mommy it was yours too.”
“Open this one next Grandma. It’s from us,” said Sammy, handing another package to Susan. It was a beautiful pillow, done in counted-cross-stitch. “Tiffany and I helped. Do you like it?”
For the next half hour, Susan continued to open packages and read beautiful cards carefully chosen by her loved ones.
At last, there was only one gift left. Sandi’s painting was propped in a lawn chair, unwrapped but covered with a pretty piece of old lace she had found in the attic.
Moving the chair next to Susan, Jim dramatically lifted the lace from the picture.
“Oh, my goodness! Sandi, it is beautiful!” Tears sprung to Susan’s eyes as she looked at the painting.
The painting showed a summer scene with white puffy clouds and rays of sunshine filtering through lush green trees. There were morning glories climbing the trellis of the wrap-around porch and a wooden swing hanging from an oak tree. Three little children were romping in the big yard. Their mother, in a blue cotton dress, stood and watched the children from the open back door.
“Oh, Sandi, it looks just like it did when the children were small! However, did you know we used to have morning glory vines?”
Looking closer, she exclaimed, “Why, I had a dress that looked just like that! How on earth could you have known that?”
“I have to admit that Mary showed me some photos. There’s one in front of the house, and you had that dress on. The rest I got from the stories you’ve been telling Joletta. I could just see it in my mind, and I wanted you to see it again.”
“Oh, Darling! Thank you! Thank you so much– and everyone else, thank you! I love you all very much. This has been the very best of all birthdays!”