Peonies and Snake Sex
Owen got up this morning and came and poked his head in our room. He said, "Mom, I don't know what time you're supposed to be up...but I think you probably should be up." I sighed and said, "I knowwww." He sat on the side of the bed, smiled at me as he said, "I think Dad had a pretty good birthday yesterday." I agreed and hauled myself out of bed to kiss him.
Ernie's birthday was indeed a lovely day. We headed out to Allerton---we hadn't been there in ages. Of course as soon as we got out of the car Owen slammed his finger in the door so we had to trundle back into downtown Monticello so we could get some ice. Eventually we made it back and wandered around. Leo refused to race with Owen the way they used to. In fact Leo had to be dragged there and had a long-suffering air through the whole thing. I looked at him and reminded myself that he was 13. In our family Judi was the one most afflicted with the long-suffering teenage attitude. I remember my mother telling me that Judi was 14 when she stopped wanting to be seen with the family and refused to go see the Willie Wonka movie with us even though she wanted to see it....and would also pass up going to dinner at her favorite restaurants because you know....we were there. He's my sweet pea though.
They day couldn't have been more gorgeous. Eventually we made our way back to town and went to lunch at Black Dog. I tried the smoked catfish sandwich and I think it's a new favorite. I ordered and wondered if I'd be sorry I hadn't gone with some kind of pork...but damn it was good! Leo even begrudgingly approved of the fries. That place is amazing.
When we got home Ernie and I sat in the front yard at the table enjoying the weather.....until I saw a snake slithering in my direction. I, of course, screamed and raced to the porch and whimpered while Ernie tried to find it. I couldn't stand watching so I went inside and whimpered some more. Owen stroked my arm and reminded me that they can't hurt me. He got me a glass of wine and some ibuprofen for good measure. Leo was properly sympathetic. Then Owen gave me a kind little lecture about the price of gardening being that I had to realize I was in their world.
Ernie came in and told me that he had found THREE snakes and relocated them. THREE. He said two of them seemed to be trying to mate. I guess it is spring...sigh. Then I found myself sort of curious about snake sex. I wanted to google it but I was afraid there would be pictures. I thought of googling 'snake sex text only' but didn't know if it would be effective. As I rambled on about this Owen said, "MO-ommmmm" and I said, "hell, I'm taking about snake sex not human sex" but I just got yelled at some more so I stopped. Oh well.