By: Sue Anganes
My son, Teddy, turned twelve this month. He had been anxiously waiting for this momentous birthday, and there was no way he was going to let it pass by without having something spectacular.
Before his birthday, Teddy sent me an email with links to Amazon and eBay listings of various gifts he was hoping to receive. He had links to Lego Hero Factory kits, as well as a few links to actual full size replica swords. He basically stated that he would be happy with anything on the list, but the fifty dollar “Robin Hood Sword” would be his heart’s desire. Well, immediately after I received Ted’s email, I had to forward it to all his siblings to show them exactly what the youngest sibling in the family had on his list. I signed the email, “Mom (made of cash) Anganes”. Of course, all kinds of emails flew back to me jesting about Teddy’s requests. The truth was, none of the older kids would have dreamed of ever giving me a list of things they wanted, never mind emailing me a list with links to big ticket items! They had grown up in a much “leaner” time period. We always gave simpler gifts, and that was all that was ever expected.
Later in the evening, I read the gift requests to my husband. The big softie hopped onto eBay and ordered the 34” Robin Hood Sword and Scabbard! He told me, “You’re only a kid once!” Somehow, I pictured my husband at Teddy’s age, desiring that same sword. My heart melted a little bit thinking how much Teddy and his dad were alike.
Normally, our birthdays are celebrated with all the siblings and their spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends, and our grandchildren. With only those in attendance, we can easily have fourteen family members around the table. Getting all the family together at one time can sometimes be a problem.
On the week of Teddy’s birthday we decided to have a cake for him on Super Bowl Sunday, even though his birthday was on that Wednesday. Most of us would be together that night and we could at least sing happy birthday to him at half time. Unfortunately, the sword had not arrived, so I knew we were destined to somehow have another “party” around the gift opening.
On the actual day of Teddy’s birth, Wednesday, the sword had still not arrived. Fortunately for me, his wonderful church youth group leader, Katie, offered to bring brownies to youth group that evening to celebrate Teddy’s birthday. I was off the hook for that day.
The following evening, Thursday, Teddy had archery. He shoots archery with a group of pre-teen (“smelly,” as my daughter refers to them) boys. I had mentioned to the instructors that I was going to bring a cake for that evening and that the kids could sing “Happy Birthday” to Ted. Unfortunately, that day was the same day that thousands of shoppers swarmed to Market Basket to stock up before the blizzard. While everyone else was filling their carts with bread, eggs, and milk, I was standing in the checkout line with a birthday cake and the last two packages of Hoodsie Cups in the store. I think I aged another year just by shopping on that day.
Thursday night, UPS delivered the Robin Hood sword. We hid it in the garage. On Friday, the blizzard hit. Teddy was still wondering if he was going to have an actual birthday with an actual present. We decided to celebrate “officially” on Saturday afternoon. His oldest sister, Cassie, even volunteered to bake a Funfetti cake after working sixteen hours straight at Lowell General’s Critical Care unit from Friday afternoon till Saturday morning. We invited one of Teddy’s favorite friends, Hailee, to join us for the evening. After we sang and Ted blew out his candles, we brought the sword out from its hiding place. Ted knew instantly what it was and rejoiced!
Seven days and four cakes later, Teddy’s Gala Birthday Extravaganza was complete. That evening, with a small amount of alarm in his voice, my adult son Charlie came to me and explained that he saw Teddy escorting Hailee down the street to her home WITH the 34” Robin Hood sword. I prayed he would get back before the neighbors noticed and panicked. Hopefully, there isn’t any law against Robin Hood escorting a lady home from his birthday party.
