Mother's Day

I've had 43 Mother's Days. This year just about wins the prize for the mother of all Mothers' Days.

Tarzan said, "Do you want to do something for Mother's Day?"

I said, "Not if I have to plan it."

Tarzan, "Oh."

End of conversation.

About two hours later he called me back and said, "We have a date at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Is it okay to celebrate Mother's Day a day early." "Sure." I say.

Then I start thinking about it, Saturday at 5:15 is the Laker's game, I bet we are going to a sports bar.

Maybe he is taking me to Circle K for hot dogs--but that is another story.

Hmmmmm, what could it be, I resist the temptation to ask.

Saturday morning we got up early and started working in the yard. Several times during the day he reminded me we had to leave before 5:00 p.m. Then I started wondering if someone was coming to the house and he was surprising me.

I still did not ask.

At 4:45 exactly, we were cleaned up and in the car. We started to drive and conversation ensued. Finally, I said something that made him casually say, "Oh, I'm taking you to that Puerto Rican restaurant I told you about."

Wow. What a night we had and to make it even more impressive, he was willing to completely miss the Laker's game to be with me (but because I am a good wife, I recorded it and we watched it when we came home--he was pleasantly surprised).

This place is in a guys home. He doesn't provide a menu, you just pay $15 a person and you eat what he and his wife cook. When they run out of food, they quit serving. You have to have a reservation.

We had an awesome authentic Puerto Rican meal. I would try to explain to you what it was, but I can't think of anything to compare it to so you would know what I'm talking about. One thing I can explain. There was something like a tamale, except it was not made with maza, the outside was mashed plantains. The stuffing was pork and it was to die for, then there was a rice dish -- oh yum. It was cooked in a banana leaf.

When we left, I had to take half of mine home, so he put it in a to go box and stapled the paper sack shut. When he handed it to me, he said, "I have put a little something in there for both of you."

Sunday morning, I opened the bag to finish my dinner for breakfast and he had put two breakfast rolls on top for our breakfast. When I opened the to go box, he had carefully wrapped everything back up in the banana leaf so it would stay moist.

We are going back on the 29th. We already made our reservation.

Then each of my children called me, each shared their love for me and each made me so happy to be a mother. I know I am blessed.

And you should see our yard!!!

Sitting in Safeway waiting for a Prescription

A man comes over--he smells like sweat. He sits down at the blood pressure machine. I speak to him. "Hi, how are you today." "Good. I have to take my blood pressure it is all over the place." He closes his eyes, takes several deep breaths and -- with his eyes still closed pushes the button to start the test.

"Did you pass?" I ask.

"134/72." He replies.

"Not bad." He smiles and goes off. The little cubby hole I'm in still smells of sweat.

Next, a little three-year-old boy comes up. He looks over the machine. "What dat?" He asks me. I explain what it is and he asks how it works. I explain about the buttons and he wants to push them.

"Don't push the buttons -- it's not a toy."

"Otay. If I put my fingow heeow, it pinch me?"

"No, it is made for a big boy. Your finger is too little."

"Oh. If i put my aaam in, it pinch me?"

"No, your arm isn't big enough."

He gets closer and casually puts his finger up to push the buttons.

"Please don't play with the machine, it isn't a toy."

"Otay." He backs off, then his Mom or sister, or aunt or whoever she was finishes her business with the Pharmacist and yells at him, "get over her, we need to go home."

Why do people do that? Why can we just speak to children the way we want to be spoken to? I bet if her boss talked to her that way she would quit her job.