I crept into Mama’s room this morning, intending to wake her up cheerily by singing “Happy Birthday” to her, but it didn’t work out that way. I ended up weeping all over her instead.
Probably not the most awesome way to awaken. By way of apology, I made the coffee, and she said it tasted just like the way Dad made it.
The fact that I am a tea drinker makes that even higher praise.
Hard to wish her a happy birthday, given that each one of these events is Difficult. But I got to spend the past five days with her, my sister, Dingo, and the Wicked Stepchildren in a pretty little condo in Pigeon Forge, TN. Like our Thanksgiving trip, I think it was the best thing we could do.
1. Mom, Lissa, and I toasted to having Gotten Through Blechmas.
1a. Blechmas! Awesome! I just made that up.
2. Dingo and Giant Stepchild of Doom got to go snowboarding and have spent today groaning around like creaky old men.
3. While they were off, the rest of us drove the heck up frightening roads to play in the snow. My stepdaughter (she who will some day rule the world) kept laughing at me for repeating how pretty everything was. Except that it was all so gorgeous – mountains, icicles, snow. Icy rivers, snowy rocks.
4. I won a Scrabble game. That was a first.
5. We flew back into Dallas, and I turned around and drove home so I can go to work tomorrow (indicating very questionable judgment on my part). I’m so tired that my eyes ache. I meant this entry to be all about my brave, strong mother on her birthday, but every time I start thinking about it, I start to cry.
5a. It’s 8:00. Finally. I can go to bed.
Jinx has been all over me, purring, from the minute I walked in the door. He wouldn’t even eat until I sat down, because he had to follow me around. I think he’s glad to see me.
(Okay, fine. I missed him too. He’s biting his way into my heart.)
I have never won a Scrabble game in my life. I put it down to trying to be clever, and trying to spell “zygomatic” or “xeriscape” when “atlas” would get me a triple word score. And I cannot think of a better overlord than your girl. My girl would probably like to be in charge of the cute kitten and puppy and pony island, so put in a good word. Happy New Year, dear.
Ha! If GirlKit can’t yet rule the world, she would love to rule KittenPuppyPony Island, for sure.
We should play Scrabble together – sounds as if we’re equally bad at it.
Wonderful! As we try to spell “xylophone” for any points at all, someone will swoop in with “of” or “or” or “for”, and win the game. Which means we will have another wee dram of good single malt and another piece of fruitcake. Possibly with Vermont white cheddar on the side.
Man, I gotta get back into the fruitcake racket.