HOLIDAYS

This Sunday marks the 234th birthday of the United States of America. . . .. this is how STEW begins his latest blog entry.

So this is how I want to begin my blog entry this morning. . ..with a slight variation on a theme. . .;-)

Wednesday, June 30th marked a 'blessed event' in the O'Shea Family: the 22nd Anniversary of Justin O'Shea's natalicia. . . Yes I was born 22 years ago. Following old traditions we celebrate The Day with its Octave . . .eight days.

Wednesday evening we celebrated with a quiet fun dinner at home. . .Mom and Dad, Mme Bouvier, my gramma who drove down in her spanking red VW, Peter and I enjoyed a great meal. . .with birthday cake and making wishes and blowing out the candles. . . .and singing. . .of course! Never miss an occasion to sing!

Thursday, the first day of the Octave, our work-week ended! My boss gave us a long holiday weekend and provided lunch that day for all of us. . .including a spur-of-the-moment improvised birthday cake! A bakery cake with a lighted sparkler sputtering on top. hahahaa

Since I enjoy the privilege of being a member of the DaSilva Family now I had dinner with them last evening. A big dinner. . .Mama always makes a BIG dinner for all her children. . . . .ahem. This was a fun affair, with great food, lots of red Portuguese wine in big bubble glasses with long stems. . . . .the kind of glass which makes "only four glasses in a bottle". . .hahahaa. . .and of course singing.

Another huge birthday cake to feed the whole family. FUN fun fun.

There will be more partying this weekend as the entire O'Shea family will be home for the long weekend. My brother [12 years older than I] with his wife and two sons; my sister [10 years older] with her husband and son and daughter. My favorite [and only] niece and my three nephews really like their

Unca Justi [ that's the way they said it when they began to talk and thus it has remained. . ."Unca Justi". . . ..and I like it. Makes me feel old and patriarchal. LOL

The boys like hanging out in my room. . . .so.. . .I am careful. . . . .shall we say?! hahaha and are apt to just walk in with no knocks. . . .but that has changed: If the door is CLOSED, KNOCK AND WAIT. . .! ;-) They are old enough now to observe "age-appropriate behaviour". . . hehehe. . .My bro's two boys, the oldest of the four kids, tend to be "forgetful" . . . I also have two teen-age cousins who are just plain nosey !!!

It is always fun having all of us together. . . .a LOT of story-telling. . "remember the time. . .?" happens at meal time. . .suppers tend to be longer. . . with lots of chatter. So we remember together who and why we are. . .

Sunday will be a busy day. . ..After morning Mass. . .we ALL make a grand entrance at St. Peter the Apostle. . ..just the sheer number of us. . . La Grande Dame leads the way in and down the aisle. . . .then there is the after-Mass de riguer Mom's Sunday Brunch.

Then later that afternoon the Guests arrive for the O'Shea Annual 4th of July BBQ. . .all of the DaSilvas will be here also this year, plus friends and colleagues of Mom and Dad. . ..and assorted friends of everybody.

My job at this event is the go-fer-boy: I am the drink server. . .this year Peter will join me in that work. . . .lest the feast go dry! Last year one of Mom's colleagues at the college pinched my butt. .. Cougar!!! hahahaaa

I hope you all enjoy your weekend and various holiday traditions. . .

ciao . . . .Unca Justi. . . .hehehe