May 18, 2006
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I don’t know if the rest of you are having strange weather but here in Portland, Oregon it feels like September. It was in the 90s at the beach, even. I stay up late when it’s hot, waiting for the upstairs to cool off. I like falling asleep on top of the covers, feeling the night air on my skin.
I bought watermelon and strawberries today. The stock market plummeted even lower while I wasted grocery money on plastic plates and glasses and a tea pitcher. I mean to say I was at the grocery store. It’s not like I traded food for the dishes. Believe me I bought plenty of food. Every time there’s a big weather shift and we enter the long-awaited next season, I celebrate with food. I’ve got my special iced tea brewed and iced. My favorite sandwich stuff and organic lemonade was lunch. I don’t eat many sandwiches and because I pile them high I divide it into two meals.
Marcie you’d be proud of me. I thought of all that food in your garage as I stocked up on cans of soup and beans which were on sale. My cupboards are overflowing, and with winter-type food. I guess it’s just like shopping for clothes; you get the good deals out of season.
I never mentioned Mother’s day, which was interesting. Not that I didn’t mention it, but that it was strange at one point. I ended up at my mothers with the middle daughter. She discovered how much like my mother she is and, as it was obvious to the three of us, our wheels were all turning in different directions. I guess I’m glad it happened. I stressed the idea that each of our qualities has a negative and a positive and her grandmother is a good example of what those qualities manifest when you don’t understand about love. What followed was an intense discussion I’m still digesting.
I am probably closer to the middle daughter than the other two, I understand her better at least. I’ve got more of a psychic connection with her and can feel where she’s at even if she’s in another state. Anyway, before she made me drive over to my mother’s (I was going to drop the plant off while she was at lunch with my sister) we went to the farmer’s market and to lunch. And in between that she stole a mailbox for me. It’s possible she relieved them of it.
After the upsetting episode with my mother, she wasn’t upset she was overjoyed, I drove over to meet the oldest. She showered me with presents, too, and we had a really good visit. The youngest was at work all day and then opted to attend a family dinner with her grandmother and new step-mother-to-be. The little shit avoided me, knowing she wasn’t going to see me for another week. Saturday night was her prom. She is living with a friend and didn’t have time to drive over so I could see her dress. I tried to drive over there but she barely had time to change from work, get to the restaurant and then hit the prom. I’ve always been part of the getting-ready process for prom so I’m feeling very absent from her. Even though I’m less of a mother more fuss was made over me this year.
Comments (17)
She’ll regret she didn’t see you.
Full cupboards remind me of my mom’s, of home. Her pantry is so deep and always full, even when things were tight. Food ended up meaning security. Strange how it all works out.
ryc: you are the only one who seemed to “get” it…thank you
Purdy, My grandson does not see his Mother I tell him all the time that he will regret it. Judi
Xanga ate my really long comment. I love you – watermelon and daughters and all.
It has been freakin hot over here as well! I am currently in shorts and a tank top – and it is not even 8am! Don’t take anything your daughter does personally about going to prom – she is a teenager and parents are not high on the list of priorities, nothing personal!
Our weather is very July like, almost 95 degrees and doesn’t cool off much. Sad about the youngest avoiding you like that, someday she will look back and notice the wrongful action and regret it.
RYC: Thanks, you do see my magic in my pictures and that I love to take them for it..marilyn
I am a big “buy some food…Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter is here!” kinda gal. I change my seasonal eating habits like some people change the front door wreath.
Parenthood is the most complex, misunderstood, joyous, heartbreaking plunge we take in this life. Being the mommy is even harder. I had a neighbor ask me last week if, knowing what I know now, would I do it all over again. I actually felt the color drain from my face because I felt such a instant sadness for her. Of course I would do it all over. I couldn’t believe that she thought I might not. Then again, she has no children, and there is no explaining it to one who hasn’t been to the Land of Mommy.
I felt my mother’s pain caused by her daughters (me and my sister). Your relationship with your mother and your daughters are admirable.
those connections like that with the “middle daughter” you have…well, you know how curious I am about them…all of humankind is connected in one degree or another, but when you see a strong connection..you want to ask about its construction…so often I have found for me, that I have that kind of buzz with people who, in my life, I have raised my arms to hold the sun for them and dropped them so low as to allow them “in”…accepting them as they are…some part of that connection you are speaking of where there is this “feel”..has to be with accepting them as they are I feel..is that true with you?
john moseley
Getting Yvonne ready for her retirement party was like getting one of my daughters ready for a prom.
We’re still getting around to celebrating Mother’s Day. Maybe this weekend. I love sandwiches.
The weather is unseasonably cool and wet it seems here… Must be global confusion lol
What you said about your youngest made me think of something… it didn’t occur to me that my mother would even care to hear from me this mother’s day. I live about 350 miles from her and am driving down for my bro’s graduation next week and she made plans to leave town (to see her boyfriend) before even checking with me! Should I give her presents/send her a card even though she doesn’t seem to think of me as a priority?
BTW- I did call her. My father said she would care, but I couldn’t tell for sure.
We have had strange weather here as well – warm and dry for about three weeks. And then, just as I’m getting ready to plant, it rains. Every day. For a week.
I don’t think you’re less of a mother – you do less, and their lives are not completely intertwined with yours. But you still love, and care, think and worry, as mothers do. That doesn’t change with time.
Good. I am glad some fuss was made over you. And your beginning has me thirsting for tea and it is too late for me to drink it. That discussion sounds like it was very interesting. Happy belated Mother’s Day too. I am sorry I forgot to say it actually. ryc: I decided not to let the crap fly by me unaddressed even though we only have a short time left. I owe it to them and to myself to make sure they understand exactly what they have done and what they are doing. I did that today calmly and they took enough rope and one of them screwed up pretty badly in front of witnesses. The department head used the word “fuck” so loudly that my students heard and were disturbed and then she kicked a door open and then she left school. It has been insane. It time they understand how insane. Strangely, I feel calmer now. I have spoken to her superiors too. We’ll see.
Not less of a mother Prudence..we all have our own ways…..
Kept forgetting to tell you about yesterday’s post…remember when a drop of 12 points was a tragedy on Wall Street…although it might have been 12%
IF i play the *Star Spangled Banner* @ the block party you WILL get a really personal post…that is if i can figure out how to get it on Google videos
The weather here in Governator City has dropped to early spring…had to wear a jacket today!!! SURPRISED you were having the same weather in Oregon.
I’m 24
Being fussed over feels so good sometimes.