(prompt: 'wet' Apr 2, 2021)

As I strolled along admiring the fresh growth on the gum trees, I spotted a Blue Wren, and incongruous as it sounds, I began laughing. I always have... for many days (actually years) past. I only need to see a picture of any bird that is blue, be it a photograph or even a cartoon; even its name mentioned in casual conversation. I laugh. The questioning looks confronting me only make me laugh louder. And longer. And then I'm forced to tell the story again, by way of explanation.

It happened last century, the day our eldest son was five years old. He'd opened our card and presents ultra-early that morning; you know how kids are—up at 'sparrow's fart' when it's their birthday, or Christmas, or Easter egg-hunt day. Morning milking finished, the girls happily feeding on the hay fed out in their paddock, just had time to spruce ourselves up; when pulling into the driveway was that welcome sight—Grandma and Grandpa in their Volkswagen Kombi van.

The son's eyes lit up with joy. He knew what would follow. More presents and hugs and kisses too, and of course, there would be lollies. Grandma never failed to dip into her magic handbag, as she called it, and fish out sweets or chocolates... every single time. But first, he must open his card, 'trying to teach him good manners,' she muttered. Uhrr, trying!

Ahh, but it was a gorgeous little bluebird—a cartoon one with a perky grin and huge smiley eyes, and the words said,

MAY THE BLUE BIRD OF HAPPINESS

(and when you open the card),

CRAP ALL OVER YOUR BIRTHDAY CAKE.

Pardon?!?

When we picked ourselves back up from collapsing on the floor in shock, we all started laughing. Grandma was born in another country, and with English as her second language, she never read inside the card, being totally in love with the dear little bluebird on the front. One of the many things we loved about her was how she would cry and mop furiously at her eyes when she was laughing her heartiest. This had to have been her ultimate and wettest challenge of all!

Forever after, any of us only have to say 'BLUEBIRD' to get the widest grins and sorely tickled funny bones.

A solid gold bluey of memories, this one.