Simply Sensational

Rachel’s a primary school teacher, and she’s always researching her environment and how it works. She loves learning from her girls who are both in gifted classes. In addition to the math discussions with Rebecca, I was party to a science and technology debate between Rachel and sixth-grade Sarah – this with my morning coffee.

Larry’s viewing of an educational program about water usage in Nevada sparked Rachel’s questions about whether hydrogen-powered automobiles will be ultimately good or bad for our water ecology. She suggested to Sarah that this would be a good question for Sarah’s science teacher. As usual, Sarah began to search her existing data base in her brain for the answer, providing a running commentary on what she found there. I learned all kinds of things about water and run-off and separation of hydrogen and oxygen, but I’m still curious about the answers that real scientists have come up with, thus far. I can’t wait to pose Rachel’s question to Richard, my own Mr. Wizard.

I was amazed at how relaxed their family seemed in light of the hoards descending on them in just a few hours. At a certain point, Rachel declared it time to work, and we all sprang into action, with Rachel as officer and the rest of us enlisted. It was such a pleasure to see Rachel’s family working as a well-oiled machine getting ready for their Christmas party. They’ve done this party for eight years now; everyone seems to know their party role.

There’s file gumbo, jambalaya, and meatballs in the steam table. At least eight varieties of homemade cookies, and smoked salmon with all the fixins’ are displayed with Rachel’s to-die-for crab dip, sundried tomato/basil/cream cheese and cranberry/pecan/ cream cheese spreads with a half dozen types of crackers. The scent of homemade spiced cider was wafting through the house.

Even last minute touches like lighting the candles on the front steps, and getting the fires lit in the indoor and outdoor fireplaces were done on cue. Larry began the slide show of this year’s family photos on their TV. When the guests start arriving, the family members were all in their places: the girls in their respective rooms, ready to entertain their age group children; Rachel in the kitchen ready to dip cider; Larry on the deck, ready to dispense cold beverages. It’s showtime!