Surprise! A birthday road trip with Shamrock Shakes (7 Quick Takes)

One of my favorite writing techniques is to give myself a designated period of time to write and see how quickly I can go. I am currently racing to complete these quick takes before my sister Maureen and niece finish baking brownies for my nephew who turns 13 today. Here we go!

~1~

We are having this writing/brownie-baking race because one morning earlier this week, in the midst of the getting-ready-for-school chaos, I said, “Maybe we should go to New York this weekend.”

The person who heard me happened to be in a spontaneous mood—as our 12-year-old often is. And he said, “I really want to go.” So, here we are, having an amazing weekend.

As I said to the birthday boy, “We didn’t have time to get to the post office to mail your gift this week, so we drove up to deliver it.” It might have taken almost four hours in the car, and we’ll have to do the same on the way home, but it’s worth it. I got to hug my sister and her children.

Hooray for hugs. Hooray for spontaneous road trips. Hooray for birthdays.

~2~

On Friday afternoon, I was scrambling to finish work projects and get home from the office to be there when my children got home, but I was running a bit behind. I texted our boys to let them know I probably wouldn’t be there when they got home because I had to stop for gas.

I pulled out of the office, pulled into the gas station, fueled up, got in the car, and found a text from our younger son: “I see you.”

Then he texted a photo of me at the gas station. He had looked at the text and then realized the bus was passing a gas station. He glanced over and there I was. You can see me in my red coat opening the door to our van.

Isn’t that so much fun?

~3~

Speaking of technology, we had shared our location with my husband and Maureen before we started driving so that they could follow along on our trip. So, when we arrived, Maureen and her children—minus my niece who is away at college—were waiting for us at the door. They had been watching our van sitting and waiting for the traffic light to change so we could turn into their neighborhood.

Naturally, our children were hungry, even though I had given them each a container of salmon and fried rice to eat on the way up. So, a few minutes after we arrived, someone was asking for McDonald’s.

I placed an online delivery order that included several Shamrock Shakes for the crew.

The only thing better than a spontaneous road trip to see your nephew turn 13 is one that includes Shamrock Shakes.

~4~

My husband stayed home, where (along other things) he is taking care of feeding our finches.

The first time we left the finches at home, I printed a two-page instruction sheet and labeled all the food and instruments needed. But John has taken care of the finches without me before. This trip I texted him a few lines and a photo of how the food should look before it goes into the cage.

He will, of course, do a better job than I ever do, and the finches will never be satisfied with my feeble attempts again.

~5~

I woke up this morning in a bed that was both familiar and unfamiliar. We have visited often enough that I knew where we were—this pseudo-home away from home. As I turned to get up, I realized I was staring right into the eyes of an enormous stuffed Pegasus.

His name is apparently Bellerophon, but he goes by Larry.

This truly is a magical trip.

I haven’t even mentioned that my sister accidentally ordered two identical sweaters and gave me one. Visiting sisters is such a joy.

~6~

Earlier in the week, back before I had any road-trip ideas, I made homemade Chinese dumplings. I only make them once every year or so, so it seems worthy of a mention. Every time I make them I wonder why I don’t make them more often, and this time they seemed especially tasty.

I made a whole platter of them, went back to the kitchen to put a few other things together for dinner, and when I came out, there were only four or five left.

I would call that a success—and a reason to make more again very soon. The recipe is here.

While I was making dumplings, I used what is apparently called a mix chopper to break up the ground pork.

I had seen someone post about their mix chopper on Instagram, and I decided to order one.

I’ve only used it to make pork-and-scallion dumplings, but I do think that it made a difference. I can’t wait to try it again.

~7~

Our older son was accepted to the high school of his choice this week! It was such an exciting moment when our friends who have a son at that school rang our doorbell to deliver his acceptance letter in person. I’m so incredibly proud of him and thrilled for him to experience the next four years.

I have successfully finished before the brownies came out to the oven!
Hope you have a wonderful week ahead, and happy birthday to my favorite 13-year-old!

Copyright © 2022 Catholic Review Media

 Print