The Yellow Chair

“Bahamas.”

“What did you say, Sam?” I asked. Sam plopped on my bed in his usual position and responded definitively, “Bahamas.” I glanced at his iPod to see if he was watching something about the Bahamas. He was watching Blues Clues - something about Side Table wanting to be in a show. Nope. Nothing about the Bahamas.

“Bahamas,” Sam said again, making it clear this was the topic he wanted to discuss. Sam had never mentioned the Bahamas before. I didn’t know he knew the word, let alone the place. That mattered little. When Sam wants to talk, we talk.

"OK. The Bahamas." I said. "What about the Bahamas?" Sam responded, "White sandy beaches. Turquoise water."

I laughed and said, "Yes you are right. Are you a travel agent?" Maybe he had seen some TV ads or a video on YouTube. "Tell me more about the Bahamas," I asked.

Sam added in rapid succession: 

"Big window. 
Blue slide. Yellow slide.

Yuck in the water.

Bubble in the water.

Under in the sea.

Under the bridge.

Yellow chair."

Wow. A lot of information. I had a feeling it related to something but I didn't know what. Why were the Bahamas on Sam's mind? Sam had visited the Bahamas two times, true, but the last trip was well over ten years ago. I'd never seen evidence he remembered back that far. So what was this sudden interest in the Bahamas?  Where did a yellow chair fit in? 

I tried to get Sam to chat a little more but for Sam, the conversation was over. He had turned his attention back to Side Table and her problem about getting a chance to perform in the show. 

This morning something clicked. I had recently scanned some photos and loaded them onto my phone. Sam always plays with my phone. Buried in with the recent photos was this:

The yellow chair. Taken in the Bahamas when Sam was five. A few photos later was this:

Taken under one of the bridges in Atlantis, the fish blowing bubbles.

Though I only had these three pictures, it was all there. All of it: the yellow chair. The blue slide and the yellow slide. The bridges. Walking "under" the sea. The fish and their bubbles. Everything. Even "yuck in the water" (seaweed to the unenlightened). Sam was describing a trip to Atlantis we’d taken many years ago. A trip I haven’t mentioned to him in many years. And he wanted to share his memories with me. Wow. Lesson learned. Sam remembers. 

Wow. Wow. Wow. And wow. 


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Happy Birthday to me

Today is my birthday. I had forgotten until my sister posted something wishing me a happy day this morning. I thought, “Oh. Here it is again. My how the summer flew by.”

I remembered back to the days when I waited so eagerly for this day: Back to the days when my birthday meant a real whipped cream cake with candles and singing. A time when I wasn’t allowed to see the cake until the candles were lit.  A time when I believed the simple action of blowing out candles could make my wishes come true. I remember the magnitude of taking that one big breath – as a year’s wishes hung precariously in the balance of my success - or, God forbid, failure.

The days of cakes and candles are long gone. Still I can’t help thinking what wishes I might make if a candle was to come my way.

A slice of D’Amico’s Bakery birthday cake to see if is as good as I remember it.

The familiar conversation with a man I know well:

Jin! It’s thy father. I think it is someone’s birthday today.

Really? Who?

I think I am talking to her - the middle one. 

You know, I chose today for my birthday because I am very diplomatic. It was my first act of diplomacy.

Oh? 

Well, your mother’s birthday is tomorrow.

True.

And Papa Paldino's was yesterday. So I purposely chose the today so I was between them. I didn't pick sides.

(That easy, low laugh) Well, that was smart! You are my diplomatic one. So Jin. Where are we going to celebrate? Pick somewhere good. My stomach will be waiting...

A special lunch with my mother.

An afternoon shopping with Carol filled with her quick banter and laugh.

All of us: Johnny, Irene, Eddy and Carol, recounting the stories of our childhood together and hearing the inevitable laughter. And then be the one who doesn’t have to clean the table.

Those are wishes beyond the magic of any candle. Still it nice to dream, to remember. I am confident of more good birthdays ahead. Today is one. I am happy for the warm wishes from friends and family. I am thankful for the sunny day. I am fortunate to have Sam and Tony and yes, Mr. Dog as part of my life. 

And for the candle wish? That’s simple. Happiness for those I love.

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