Ireland/China 2025, continuing (52)

[aadler]

Forty-second day in China – August 1 Friday

I got up just after 8:00AM, but it was 10:00 before Susan came out; she’d been awake for hours, but reading in bed because her back hurt.

Kevin had already told us he’d be taking the day off for Amber’s birthday, and also that they would start off about 1:00PM for the first thing scheduled for the day’s celebration: birthday-cake making. Because of this, Susan wanted lunch early, and I went down to get chicken sandwiches from 7‑Eleven shortly after 11:00.

So, very busy after that.

We met Kevin downstairs just after 1:00PM, and cabbed with him to a big mall over in the Bao’an district. Part of Amber’s birthday celebration — something she apparently suggested herself — was a gathering at a special shop that supervised the little girls attending in making (and baking, and frosting, and decorating) individual cakes. Susan took part in that herself; most of the little girls participating took their own cakes home with them, Amber and Susan likewise.

Amber had bought a ring at a next-door shop, but it had to be re-sized for her. I and Kevin and Susan walked around the mall while we waited for the re-sizing to be finished, while Amber left with Laura (her Chinese grandmother). Once we had the ring, the three of us took a cab back to the Yins’ apartment, arriving ten or fifteen minutes before Logan had dinner on the table.

Mei‑li and the nanny were present as well, so that made eight of us at the table (with Ruby sleeping in a quiet corner). Logan had made seven different dishes — not counting the soup or the rice — and all of us had multiple helpings of each till we were full. (And Kevin and Susan and I shared some cognac through the meal.)

Afterward, it was a matter of passing out birthday presents. Amber must have already received some, because I didn’t see anything from the Yins; Kevin brought back a big Legos project (the Weasleys’ home, from Harry Potter), and on my Kindle I showed Amber the story I’d done for her. Kevin noted that my explanation to her (I had to tell her both what ‘fanfiction’ is and the general venue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer) hadn’t included letting her know that I had written the story, for her. She got really impressed at that point … but she didn’t have time to sit and read it on the spot, which had gradually been coming clear for me as I followed the events planned for her. Kevin said he would print out the story for her to read, once he had the chance. (I’m so accustomed to reading things online, I had just assumed he would provide her with the ’net link I’d given him to look over my initial draft. And, until I know she has read it, I’ll hold off on posting it on my LJ.)

Kevin walked with Susan and me back to our apartment. Mei‑li had bought another cake for Ruby’s one-month birthday tomorrow, and that meant we had one cake too many. We brought with us the one Susan had made, and Susan gave it to the guy at the front desk to share with his co-workers.

At our apartment, Kevin hung around talking with us till around 9:30PM. Once he left, Susan and I said our Rosary together, and then settled in to relax for the rest of the evening. Eventually it was time for us to start preparing for bed.