Thu, Apr 29th - 7:21AM

Durant's Rousseau and Revolution, p. 800
99.0 miles
clear

95 recordings of 27 types.

Rasmussen: -13: 45/54

We started off for Novato in plenty of time, planning to get to the church for Lexi's First Communion by 2.  For some reason, both Rich and Bernadette (on her own with two babies in a different car) thought the ceremony was at 2, even though they initially knew it was 2:30. Then there had been an accident on the causeway, and traffic was moving at 6 mph.  In Bernadette's case, she was stopped for 30 minutes. I'd thought of calling her and telling her to go a different way, but figured she'd be in it just like us. (We'd figured out a detour route but didn't take it -- we probably should have.) Fortunately, the baby slept and Gareth was good. (Rob was coming down with a migraine, which is why he opted out.)  Rich was in a snit, but I knew we had time planned in, just that it was good that Lexi wasn't depending on us for her necklace. We finally got there by 2:10 and found Roni waiting at the pew. (Way in the back on the side.) Monica and Mark and the girls were there on the other side so we went over to say "hi."  The girls were dolled up in their Easter clothes. Apparently Bernadette turned up about 5 minutes later and went up to the balcony. After the 68 communicants marched in, and we had the opening prayer, I went up to check. If it had just been the baby with her, I'd have brought them down because we had a little room in the pew, but Gareth was having a great time walking back and forth, back and forth, and they were better off up there. (Though it's hot up there, and no fans in the church.)

I missed seeing Lexi in the procession, and only got a glimpse of the actual First Communion, but it was beautiful anyway.  For the Gloria and later in the prayers, the congregation can clap. I saw Teddy (who was in a black mood because he'd lost his birthday balloon) wasn't clapping and told him he could.  I don't know what R.J.'s mom thought, since I don't think she's been to a Mass since we stopped the Latin.  It was a nice Mass.  At the end of it, Rich and I were both in the balcony helping Bernadette.  Gareth was thrilled to see Djadja.

Back to the house. Roni had a nice spread, and there was the usual family chitchat.  Monica had given Teddy a Playmobil castle and was putting it together for him, and Gareth thought this was the best place to play, with all the tiny pieces ("This is for 4+", said Teddy. "I know, and Gareth is 2-", I said) and the nice sharp scissors. I finally got him out in the hall.  The place isn't babyproof, so there was an adult with Gareth all the time, but on the whole he was a really good little boy.

RJ's Mom left first, then Monica and all, Bernadette and kids, and us, about 6 or so. A good day!

The only major disappointment of the day was that Monica doesn't think we should have Charlotte on her own next Friday.  "She'll whine" because it seems she has to have Genevieve everywhere. This isn't the impression I got from the Christmas letter.  Genevieve tends to take over. I had thought this would be a good idea just to get to know C., who is a stranger to us.  It would also be good for C.  Oh, well, I guess we'll just give her her birthday present Thursday and let Genevieve take it over. 

We'll have them for quite some time on Friday as Monica has a lunch with her boss in San Francisco. This is worrying, I hope it's not a firing lunch.