auntie lydia's old-timer birthday surprise

Auntie Lydia has recently been creating quite a buzz around our house- the kids have realized that she is a wealth of stories. Stories are always great, but even better- these are stories are often about their dad. And to top it off, he is very naughty in most of them. Like I said- very, very popular with the kids.

So one of the stories she told, by request, goes like this... Whenever the kids would get candy, the boys would get to keep theirs to eat at will, and Lydia had to give hers up to Grandmom for safe-keeping, and Grandmom would dole it out in reasonable measure. Well of course, the boys would gobble theirs up in no time. Knowing full well that there was more candy about, but that it was little sis Lydia's, it seemed almost unattainable. Almost. With just enough craft and heartlessness, it could be theirs to savor. The ploy was this: the boys (Jason and Gabe) would lie on the floor and cry out, "Oh Lydia.. Oh Lydia I'm not feeling good! Lydia, I think I'm dying!!" They would moan and look faint. She would run to them in alarm- ready to do anything to save their lives. "Lydia!" they'd say, "Sugar would help us! Sugar would bring us back to life! Quick- go get some of your candy from Grandmom!" She would run frantically to get the remainder of her candy, and administer full doses to bring her sweet brothers back to life. This happened more than once. They even did it to get her to bring and feed them grapes. Poor, poor little sister!

Another story, one of the few that did not include cruel brothers, was about Grand-ma- Lydia's great-grandmother who lived with them at the time. Grand-ma was getting quite along in years, and, lacking a good amount of teeth, was given the vitamin / protein drink Ensure to maintain good nutrition. Ensure came in several sweet flavors, and when she would open one, well, all those sugar loving kids would want some too. So Grand-ma would crack hers, and then crack another for the kids to share. Then they would all go into her bedroom together and sit on her bed, drink Ensure, and watch WWF wrestling- her favorite.

So when Lydia told my kids this story, they just couldn't believe that she woudl try such a drink. "Ewww!" they said. "Wasn't it disgusting?!" "NO!" she cried. "It is a fabulous little drink! I loved vanilla best!"

For the next few days the kids walked around repeating the phrase..."a fabulous little drink!" They were so curious. Then we hit upon an idea...

It all came together on Thursday night when we had Lydia over for a little birthday dinner. She was greeted at the door, then the kids bombarded her with little packages they wrapped- many colored beaded items they had made especially for her, and lots of fancy pictures. (Naomi decided to spell her name "Li-T-u") Then they took her hand and led her to the table. Josiah covered her eyes from behind her chair, and Naomi and Eva ran to the kitchen. "Don't look don't look!" Eva returned with a crystal goblet, and Naomi with a flowered tray, carrying the surprise. "For your pleasure," Naomi said, "A fabulous little drink." Eva open the lid and carefully poured- nearly spilling everywhere as she was shaking with laughter. "Don't worry" I told her. "I wouldn't let them give you anything terrible!" She was trusting enough (even with those bad big brothers!) that she willingly took a sip. "What is it what is it!?" the kids yelled excitedly. "It's Ensure!" she said. "Vanilla!" They screamed with glee. They thought it was the most amazing trick ever played.

Of course, Lydia offered the drink to all. The girls refused to try it, but knowing it was called "Vanilla" (or Banilla, as he says) Bubby was game...


And guess what... he's Ensure's newest fan. About 80 years early for him; but who needs those pesky old meals like dinner, he thinks, with such a potion as this?!

Mmmmmm...... A fabulous little drink!