Not mine, fortunately. Those are coming too fast. This one belongs to Cole, tomorrow. Normally, a new 6 year old would have friends over (or gather at a designated venue), act crazy, eat sugar, get loot, and crash. This one’s a little trickier. He just started kindergarten, doesn’t really know anyone in class as kids from his preschool dispersed to various area elementary schools. Do you invite relative strangers, and if so, which ones? “Hi, we don’t really know your kid but come on out anyway.” We didn’t get together with his preschool friends over the summer, except 1, so they’re out. “Hi, we didn’t stay in touch with you but come on out anyway.”
Fortunately the celebrant is easy to please and is happy to go to Medieval Times for his birthday. Repeatedly seeing the castle looming over the parking lot at the mall apparently had the desired effect. Cole’s 1 remaining preschool friend won’t be joining us because lights and loud noises upset him. How he’s able to play with Cole, a continuous noise emitter, I don’t know. I still have to make the cake but that’s ok – my kids haven’t caught on to the fact that I have no talent in that area. Either that or they’re happy to eat any cake that has Ho-Ho’s, M&M’s, and Twizzlers stuck to it. One robot cake, coming up!
The lethargic teenagers at the castle were useless when it came to selling me tickets a few days ago so I ordered by phone. The persuasive saleswoman, er, Sales Lady of the Realm, convinced me I’d be a bad dad who’d die alone if I didn’t upgrade to a premium package, have Lord Cole knighted with his birthday announced to all in attendance, and seat him in the first 3 rows. Wiping the tears from my eyes I read her my credit card information through racking sobs.
I also bought him a used Horse of the Realm.
Sales Lady of the Realm called back later to inform me she charged me too much and arranged a refund of the difference. I guess chivalry isn’t dead after all.
I still haven’t figured out what to do with the horse, but at least I have until tomorrow night to figure that out.
I’ve been to Medieval Times — pre-kids in Orlando — but I remember thinking about all those kids who had birthdays. I wish we were closer to one.