The Vertebrats, Dumps and Giggling
I was not in a good mood last night. The evening started off pleasantly enough. Ernie picked me up early from work so I could go get a mammogram and he could get some bloodwork done. In the midst of that the guys said they were going swimming and then to a friend's house. Having one's breasts hauled around like hams is not a delight but it was fine and so with no children in our future Ernie took me to Fries and Peanuts for a drink. We talked about the day and vacation coming up and congratulated our dear friend Tom on his gorgeous new baby. I now have the babies Evaline and Clemantine in my family of friends! We went home but ended up getting frustrating and upsetting news about someone we love dearly and is the middle of the there's-a-health-problem-and-it's-probably-serious-but nobody-can-tell-you-what-it-is dance with doctors and hospitals. So we ended up feeling distracted, angry and frustrated on their behalf.
The boys were at a friend's new house for the first time---he just moved out of the neighborhood. So it was kind of a big deal they were going by themselves and we had made sure they had their phones with them. So as the time they should have been home approached and passed we tried to call them. No answer. Tried to call their friend. No answer. Tried to call them again. No answer.
I was just raring to be pissed off anyway. We sat in the living room and began to steam.
Finally their friend called back and said they were just leaving. We waited some more until we got really anxious and eventually Ernie took off in the Honda to look for them. I tried finishing the pieces of chicken on the grill with the fire that had gone too low. I finally hauled them off and crossly threw them in the oven.
Ernie pulled up with the boys. They got out and started walking toward the house as I stood on the porch. Owen was in the lead, Leo behind him looking apprehensive. Before I could say anything Owen put his hand up in the air and said, "Before you start yelling at us Mom, we want to confess." "We did have our phones with us but they were in our bag and we didn't hear them ring and then I had to stop at Colonial Pantry and take a dump."
Sigh.
This is where you brain just stops, rewinds, and all you can think is "I NEVER thought I'd have a child who would tell me he had to stop at Colonial Pantry and take a DUMP. A DUMP is what you call it Owen? REALLY?
He did take the wind out of my sails a bit so I just stared at him....as I often find myself doing. He continued with his defense....saying they were very sorry they worried us and they would always make sure they had their phones were they could hear them, etc., etc.
We went in the living room and I hugged them both and accepted their apologies. Then I told them the story of when I had been 18 or 19----the summer after my first year of college. I was living at home and working and a friend and I went out one work night and went to a place called Gaspar's to see the Vertebrats. We ended up staying until the band finished playing and then drove home....it was almost 3:00 when she dropped me off. When I walked in the front door both my parents were sitting in the living room. I said to the boys, "and you know what I did?" They shook their heads 'no' and I said, "I giggled. The guys looked up at me and I said, "take my advice...that's something you should NEVER do when you have angry parents waiting for you." They giggled uncertainly and I hugged them again. Then they laughed some more when I told them it was mostly my mother that was mad and you know my dad was mostly there because she'd hissed at him, "Joe, she's not home yet....get UP."
What goes around comes around I guess. And this is only the beginning.....