I like rituals. When I was a child, my favorite part of Catholicism was the Solemn High Mass which, though seemingly endless to a little kid, included as the grand finale priests in gold robes under a satin canopy held by altar boys, all of them walking the aisles of the church while the choir sang Gregorian chant. It was spectacular.
Now I prefer secular rituals—most recently wedding and baby showers. Our extended family is experiencing a baby boom, with a girl and two boys born within the past five years and another boy due in July. After more than twenty years of quiet get-togethers, I’m looking forward to all the chaos that children bring to events. Last weekend I joined the females of our California tribe for a celebration of the impending birth of Baby Jack Chambers, son of our niece Rebecca and her husband, John Chambers.. Twenty females—half of us aunties of one sort or another– and two small boys spent an afternoon eating, drinking, talking and reveling in Becca’s obvious happiness. Here are some photos of the gathering.
Auntie Nancy Hinkley, Sue Popik, Auntie Geralyn Cole
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Aunties Patti Smilovitz, Chris Brownfield and Elizabeth Mekjavich
Parents-to-be Becca Popik Chambers and John Chambers
- Rory Hutchison and Kamiko Rankin Hanson
