For Mom

My mom hit a chronological milestone this week and her family threw her a party. I was miles away but I sent this little blurb along so she knew I was celebrating too:

Mom is a lot of things to me. My mother. My teacher. My friend. Fresh flowers on the table, warm meals in pretty serving dishes, the welcome escape of a good read; all remind me of her. A few years ago, Mom and I spent a weekend in Southern Utah, just the two of us. I don't remember exactly how old I was, or what official entertainment we had planned. But I will always remember chilling out in the sauna while we waited for that forgotten main event. In true Diane fashion, Mom had made a trip to the library beforehand and brought plenty of books along with us. Somehow she talked me into reading Irma Bombeck aloud.....and we must of read half of it in there, melting right off the benches and totally busting a gut! Maybe I remember that because we stayed in there forever. Maybe I remember 'cause it got so hot I thought my acrylic french-tip nails were going to explode right off my fingers. But mostly I think I remember because of the way Mom's laugh filled the hot box and sweetened the air. I love Mom's laugh. It's rich and sincere. And it, like the way she's always learning, or the way she loves to share, is a constant about her. It's one of the many details that gives her such life. And one of the many ways she will stay forever young.

Happy Birthday Mama! I love you.

Chicken Nuggets and Fries

Today was full. Of meals and errands, smiles and tantrums, schedules and phone calls, and rain and messes and conscious efforts to just keep it together. The baby has officially abandoned the infant box I've been desperately trying to trap her in. She's got two teeth on the way and has decided that she stands. With our help, but on her own two feet. Always. And the monkey is shunning the very idea of a nap. Like it reeks. As for me, my gear shift has been stuck in go-speed for at least nine days now. And Daddy kissed us goodbye before I was even coherent this morning. So today, in all of it's exhaustiveness was a pretty representative sample of a day in our life as of late. With the exception of a couple fantastic hours in the car this afternoon.
We were driving home from Target when it happened. Curly asked for a restaurant and a green and crusty "NOPE" was on the tip of my tongue. "We didn't have time for it." Which technically, we didn't. But I did some quick math mixed with some toddler-mode realism and found my car heading for the drive-thru window and my voice was ordering chicken nuggets and chocolate milk. I paid and made sure BBQ sauce and ketchup had been included. Then Goldie the car kindly chauffeured us to the beach. Where we the three of us enjoyed our junk food in the front seat, in full view of green stormy water and the city skyline. Pushing every button on the dashboard while seagulls bobbed on the waves. Sue and I talked about Daddy; that we miss him every minute and what he's having for lunch downtown. Then dogs, as a variety passed by. And finally named our bobble-head retriever. I believe we settled on Kyle. Meanwhile, the rosy little chubosaurus we like to call Lou stood, of course, on my lap. Most pleasantly focused on the traffic out the window. Tasting fries and chocolate ice cream. And occasionally honking the horn with her big diapered bottom. And just like that we got lunch, complete with clean up, checked off the list. Which is all we probably would have done with that space of time anyway. But this way we got cars zooming, birds surfing, and canines dutifully walking their owners. And it was just plain lovely.