Merry Birthday, Melly Belle

Our beloved Melanie Noel turns eleven today. Eleven years of the Christmas present of Melly, born on the shortest day of Two Thousand Four.

We feted her in down-home fashion last Friday evening at the Cracker Barrel in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

That's basically Charlotte. The Carowinds exit.

I admit to a fondness for Cracker Barrel. I like the store as much as the grits and biscuits. And those corn muffins.

So anyway, we all converged upon the lip of North Carolina where it kisses the lip of South Carolina, and for a change it was cold like a normal December night, and windy, and we shivered and hurried and whooped and hugged and hollered when we saw one another.

I had brought two giant 40-inch silver helium-filled mylar balloons in the shape of ones.

Two ones. Eleven. Melly, who is a special needs child (emphasis on special) with little capability in the way of speech, gave an eloquent shriek when she spotted the double massive shining bobbing airborne digits.

(The birthday girl has some feelings of trepidation when faced with helium balloons, but they're a staple at our celebrations that she's had to accept. She succeeded at live-and-let-live until later in the party when I asked her to pose beside them.)

We ten settled in, having passed by the roaring fireplace, and our server was charming and made us feel so welcome.

In addition to me -- the one perpetually behind the lens, and no, I'm not hiding, I'm just busy being creative -- not a bit of this, after all, is about me -- the cast of characters included our one grandson, Andrew:

Like the sign says: Big Trouble.

Not really. He's adorable and very sweet, and exceptionally good.

Dagny loves parties:

She was, naturally, accompanied by her adoring mother, Audrey:

And her adored and equally adoring Aunt Erica:

There was the lovely Stephanie, always busy, and TG who presides quietly in the background:

No party would be complete without my son-in-law, Joel. I think he has a wonderful face. The kindest, bluest eyes.

I somehow dropped the ball and failed to get a picture of Allissa by herself. But I wish you could see her at Melanie's birthday parties. She is forever looking out for her big sister, helping and explaining and protecting.

She glories in providing assistance, as in holding up just-unwrapped clothing items so that the recipient's delight at the gift can be duly memorialized in the very moment:

An avid reader, Allissa especially enjoys sharing the card messages aloud.

There were lots of cards, to go with a an impressive number of presents. 

In fact, the number of gifts began piling up and I saw there would be nowhere to put the plates of food which had been ordered and for which our mouths were watering.

I know it's odd for a Friday night during the dinner hour at Cracker Barrel in a busy metropolitan hub a week before Christmas, but at no time during our visit was the restaurant more than half full.

Although there were diners at a table beside us, the rest of the tables in the area were empty.

So I wondered, what would be the harm in stacking Melly's presents on a bare unused table a few feet away? If there came a rush of customers and they needed to seat folks, we could quickly move them.

But no sooner had I placed a few packages on said surface and was reaching for more, and Stephanie had expressed relief that she'd have somewhere to put the large cake box, than a passing server (not ours) told me to move them.

I'll be needing that table, she said. I looked around at the sea of empty tables. I looked back at her. I didn't say a word but I thought, Seriously? This very table?

I'll be needing it, she repeated. While not precisely rude, she was far from being exactly its opposite.

She must know something I don't, I thought, envisioning a busload of tired chilly hungry revelers from Carowinds even then being emptied out at the Cracker Barrel entrance.

But no.

Throughout our three-hour stay at Cracker Barrel, this was the subject table:

In fact, at different times a single diner was seated at the tables on either side of the lonely empty table. But no one -- least of all the territorial waitress -- came near it again, during our party's party.

Melanie's presents sat in a heap on the floor until they were needed. The cupcake-cake painstakingly prepared by Stephanie and Allissa perched on a narrow ledge until serving time.

And yes; I tattled to a manager as we left. Don't judge. That's my job.

After effusing about the watchful hospitality of our server and the delightful scrumptiousness of our meal, I revealed that a grumpy employee had denied us the use of a bare postage-stamp-sized space on which to rest the birthday gifts and cake of a special-needs child.

Arrrgh. Me pirate hackles were ever-so-slightly elevated.

Melanie loved all of her gifts, but she had a real surprise this year. Because she needs it for school, her parents bought her a refurbished iPad.

If you'd seen her reaction, you would have thought the gift was one million dollars in cold hard cash, to be spent on the toys and treats of her choice.

Her shrieks upon seeing her device -- at school, up till now, she has been obliged to share the teacher's iPad -- made the exclamations she emitted upon the giant double-one balloon sighting seem like whispers.

As the pink-dress cupcakes were served and pink-and-purple fairy wands distributed to the females, Dagny briefly considered the boundless benefits of becoming a bona-fide princess.

Allissa hovered as Melanie tried out familiar games and lessons on her Internet-free electronic workbook. There was joy and there was excitement.

Aunts Audrey and Erica gave Melanie a special padded carrying-case for her iPad. Melly seemed to instinctively realize its importance in the scheme. Also, purple is her favorite color.

It was all such a blast. A cold starry night near to Christmas and bright stars in our darling Melly's eyes, and white stars glowing in warm lamplight, and delicious food. All of my family, except my son, that other cherished Andrew, within touching distance.

The best part was Melanie's happiness. I love my eldest granddaughter's smiles on her birthday. She struggles every day in ways we cannot understand, try as we might. All year I look forward to this very smile.

Melanie and her family are traveling to Pennsylvania and her other grandparents' house today, where tonight there will be a second birthday party. I can't wait to hear all about it next week when they return, and make their way here for a second Christmas.

And so it is time to prepare my final shopping list of the season. I must not forget to dig out the suntan lotion, as I'm pretty sure we'll be serving the Christmas ham and other delicacies poolside.

The forecast for Christmas Day in Columbia, South Carolina, is eighty-one degrees.

Records may be shattered.

We shall see.

And that is all for now.

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Happy Monday :: Happy Christmas Week

Comments

[Judy Miller]

Melanie --I almost named my oldest daughter--is a lovely young girl and I truly adore Allissa. What a wonder SHE is!!! No need to ever fear. Melanie will be well protected, pampered and deeply loved by her sister! Beautiful family!

P.S. At this moment, I truly hate that misguided waitress! What a snob!

[Jennifer]

@Judy ... yes the waitress was so wrong and I seriously wonder where she was coming from. It's hard not to take offense when it involves a child, especially your own grandchild, particularly one with a disability. Thank you for your kind comments and yes, Allissa is a wonder. She is a great sister. xoxo

[Barb]

Oh, Happy Birthday 11 year old Melly! You have caught her in so many moods. That pink cupcake dress is a marvel. Bah Humbug to the waitress who seemed to need to wield her tiny bit of power. Luckily, she couldn't dampen the spirit of celebration. I will be with my family tomorrow night in Denver for our Christmas Dinner.

[Jennifer]

@Barb ... the number of pictures I was able to get is amazing to me, because Melanie doesn't always cooperate when it comes to even the most casual pose. But I was wily and she was distracted, so it was a good night in more ways than one. No, that waitress didn't get me down for more than a moment, but I do marvel at Scrooge-like behavior this time of year. Have a wonderful time in Denver and I hope you see some snow. xoxo

[irene]

Except for the table incident, What a wonderful party, I can't believe she's eleven already. She's delightful.

[Jennifer]

@Irene ... It's so good to hear from you, dear Irene. I agree on all points. Merry Christmas to you and the family. xoxo

[Mari]

Why did I just today get notice of this post? I don't know, but I hope you'll excuse me for being late to the party!
Anyway - Happy Birthday to sweet Melly! I love her sweet smile and the way her dear sister looks out for her. I also have to say that it's great to see all the grands - they are all gorgeous!
I'm glad you spoke to the manager. That waitress was completely out of order.