The joy of celebrating family birthdays

Spring may not have arrived for sure, but April has, and in my immediate family, we have done a lot of celebrating this month. From March 30 to April 15, we count Daddy, son Bill, son-in-law Mike, three grandchildren, a great and a nephew.

When I was little, a birthday always warranted a celebration of some sort, even if only a special cake which might contain surprises, such as coppers or buttons or beans, carefully hidden in waxed paper. A dime was a lucky find! There would always be candles on top and the match box would be handy for lighting them.



A summer birthday for sister Gail (right) always meant time for a swim at Bruce Beach; photos courtesy of Ruth Anne Hollands Robinson

I think I have mentioned family get-togethers for Keith and me, with a duck for each of us or a big goose. Grandpa, Aunt Syl or Mum would have prepared the feast even though it was Uncle Lorne who held the official title of cook.

Gail’s birthday would have been celebrated at the lake, often with Dale, and usually Aunt Evelyn’s girls and an extra friend or two. The Pollock picnic grounds at Bruce Beach had a fireplace for hot dogs in those days, but sandwiches to have before the cake served just as well.

I have been browsing Mum’s 1943-47 diary lately. I noted that on her birthday in 1947, when I would have just turned six, she and I made a big chocolate cake. The following year, she invited “Dad’s, Jack’s, Howard’s, Albert’s and Grandpa” for a New Year’s supper, Jan. 11, her birthday.

She served turkey, gravy, dressing, potatoes, turnip, salad, relish, pickles, buns, carrot pudding, berry tarts with whipped cream, and Christmas cake. She was pleased to receive nylons from Grandma, the first that she had had. The next evening, Uncle Wes, Aunt Mamie and Ralph attended a repeat performance which helped deal with leftovers.



Mum (right) still celebrating with a cake in 2001; here, with Evelyn Elliott

Daddy’s birthdays were sometimes more eventful. In 1943, it was “a snowy day again,” April 15. Daddy got stuck with “Lady” in the buggy. Both it and the harness broke. It appears to have been a backward spring but John and Jean [MacDonald] managed to get down for supper.

The following year, Grandma had put Mum to bed at their house on April 14. She had spent the previous day on the couch while Daddy and I went to town. We bought white yarn. On the 15^th, Daddy and “Mr. Hollands” were down to Pine River for dinner. That evening, Daddy was back with medicine and tablets from the doctor. Mum was not having an easy pregnancy.

In 1945, Mum started preparations April 14 by making an orange cake, and plucking and drawing a rooster. “[Les] Anderson’s were expected for supper (on the day itself) but couldn’t come so Syl, Lorne, Keith and Mr. Hollands came.”

In 2006, we celebrated with a picnic at the Saugeen Valley Park, south of Hanover, on a mild spring day. Times do change!



At Saugeen Valley Park in 2005 for Daddy’s 85th; at least three others were celebrating with him

-- Ruth Anne Hollands Robinson