Thirteen, Paint Balls and Tuxedos

Last Saturday, Aidan and three buddies put the finishing touch on the part of his birthday, that was delayed a week, at a nearby, outdoor, farm-to-millennial, paint-ball extravaganza. They played multiple sessions and were ready for the tables Wendy and I shoved together for a family feed at Jesse's BBQ.

John, who was their chauffeur, held up well but was as starved as they were.

Fed, and in their second wind they played some backyard soccer for awhile at Rhapsody Ridge. I'd have opted first for the chocolate cake and birthday remembrance time, but they were in the thrall of a gorgeous afternoon and action.

They were no less enthusiastic about Wendy's wonderful German chocolate cake that was so deliciously rich I believe it will put me on those anti-cholesterol pills.

Even as they are passing into teen-hood these youngsters weren't too embarrassed to sing Happy Birthday.

The next day, Sunday, it was Aidan into his tuxedo for his PYAO concert at Union League. Somehow, John and Wendy delivered him to his morning cello lesson, John played in a Bocci tournament, they parked one vehicle at John's work, delivered Aidan to orchestra rehearsal in Center City, hung out at the Perch Club, met me there after my train ride into the city, and we walked together to the classy venue.

The ballroom where they played.

 George and Martha were there...

...and so were dozens of portraits of presidents and important people in government. I didn't find any Democrats.

The music was wonderful though the venue on a ballroom floor was level making it difficult to see. So, a couple shots that are sort of "Aidan was there" photos...

Orchestra gathering.

The sound was great in this space.

Afterward at the cookie reception, a split-second quiet moment photo-op for grandma.

Cello language conversation.

...but regardless the seeing, the performance was remarkable, and I got to hear some of it again yesterday evening that Wendy had picked up on her iPhone. It was playing on the amplifier when I stopped in at home to greet Keoni who just arrived from Mercer for Spring Break. He had some incredibly difficult music to share too that he's begun to work on.

The Earth is swinging us toward our springtime. The daylight is uplifting. Outdoors beckons. I am glad to be shedding the strain and the viruses that plagued recent weeks.