60 and sassy
Today is my mother's 60th birthday.
It did not start off well, especially for my father. They both get up early on regular weekdays, but if mom doesn't have to go to work she usually sleeps in. Usually. Today? Nope. My dad likes to buy her flowers, but forgot yesterday and planned on going early today to get them. Mom ended up getting up so early he didn't have anything ready by the time she first came downstairs for coffee and whatnot. I know he had a card, though; we got those yesterday while grocery shopping. I finally got up for good around my normal time and ran into her as she came up the stairs, so I grabbed her card and gift and gave it to her; she made a comment like, at least *somebody* got me something! I didn't know what that meant at the time since I hadn't yet been downstairs. I got her a fairly decent card--not funny, not overly flowery, and no mention of her age--and made her a necklace.
After going downstairs, I saw dad, who said he'd wanted to get the flowers but she was up too soon; he was now waiting for her to get in the shower so he could run to the store. All I know is that not long after she finished, I got in the shower, and he was back by the time I finished. Mom then asked me to do her hair--she's been asking that a lot lately, which is getting annoying--then got cranky while I worked. Did you *see* the card your father gave me? Yes; I picked it out. It was funny--the character Maxine asks which birthday it is, something like "What's it to you?" or "None of your damn business." I know she likes Maxine, and it's my father's humor, but mom was horrified her husband of all people would give her such a thing. ...Have you met your husband? He's not the flowery-card-giver type either, and in fact one card he picked out, which was mildly humorous, I'm pretty sure he'd already given her so I vetoed that one. She was just in a mood this morning, so God help all the people to come in contact with her. Look, just because you're officially really old doesn't mean you can take it out on everyone.
They ended up going to a casino, mom's choice, and while she didn't win she didn't lose that much. By the time I got home, she was consoling herself at Kohl's, and dad said she was in a much better mood. It helps that dad did come home a winner, up $60. That seemed to be the number of the day.
Alas, this was the year of breaking all our traditions. Not only did we not get together with grandma for Mother's Day, we didn't meet her up in Lake Geneva this weekend, either. She and mom are getting together tomorrow to celebrate their birthdays jointly, but that's it. I begged off going up there--just our family; grandma wasn't included at all--at least this particular weekend, because there was too much to do around the house. It worked out just fine as we got the garden planted and dad put up the lattice on the pergola, creating almost a little room out there. It'll take some getting used to but it makes that part of the yard a little more private, which is nice.
It did not start off well, especially for my father. They both get up early on regular weekdays, but if mom doesn't have to go to work she usually sleeps in. Usually. Today? Nope. My dad likes to buy her flowers, but forgot yesterday and planned on going early today to get them. Mom ended up getting up so early he didn't have anything ready by the time she first came downstairs for coffee and whatnot. I know he had a card, though; we got those yesterday while grocery shopping. I finally got up for good around my normal time and ran into her as she came up the stairs, so I grabbed her card and gift and gave it to her; she made a comment like, at least *somebody* got me something! I didn't know what that meant at the time since I hadn't yet been downstairs. I got her a fairly decent card--not funny, not overly flowery, and no mention of her age--and made her a necklace.
After going downstairs, I saw dad, who said he'd wanted to get the flowers but she was up too soon; he was now waiting for her to get in the shower so he could run to the store. All I know is that not long after she finished, I got in the shower, and he was back by the time I finished. Mom then asked me to do her hair--she's been asking that a lot lately, which is getting annoying--then got cranky while I worked. Did you *see* the card your father gave me? Yes; I picked it out. It was funny--the character Maxine asks which birthday it is, something like "What's it to you?" or "None of your damn business." I know she likes Maxine, and it's my father's humor, but mom was horrified her husband of all people would give her such a thing. ...Have you met your husband? He's not the flowery-card-giver type either, and in fact one card he picked out, which was mildly humorous, I'm pretty sure he'd already given her so I vetoed that one. She was just in a mood this morning, so God help all the people to come in contact with her. Look, just because you're officially really old doesn't mean you can take it out on everyone.
They ended up going to a casino, mom's choice, and while she didn't win she didn't lose that much. By the time I got home, she was consoling herself at Kohl's, and dad said she was in a much better mood. It helps that dad did come home a winner, up $60. That seemed to be the number of the day.
Alas, this was the year of breaking all our traditions. Not only did we not get together with grandma for Mother's Day, we didn't meet her up in Lake Geneva this weekend, either. She and mom are getting together tomorrow to celebrate their birthdays jointly, but that's it. I begged off going up there--just our family; grandma wasn't included at all--at least this particular weekend, because there was too much to do around the house. It worked out just fine as we got the garden planted and dad put up the lattice on the pergola, creating almost a little room out there. It'll take some getting used to but it makes that part of the yard a little more private, which is nice.