The fact that I haven't posted anything for so long can attest to the fact that I am indeed a pseudo single parent with hardly any energy left in the day to heave the ice cream scoop in and out of the carton let alone sit down and write something witty. Thank goodness last week I snuck in a quick girls' weekend to AZ so I had the renewed patience to make it through this stage of life alone, without a present partner. (In my brilliant husband's defense he is doing his part by taking exams that I wouldn't have any concept of faking, preparing presentations that blow my mind, and landing 4 interviews to get an internship this summer. All of which are very important and critical to our family's welfare, but which leave us in 2 entirely different trenches. Mine being the less appreciated one. Wouldn't it be so nice as a mother to hear the words "excellent strategy for household efficiency and way to handle the imminent breakdown of your subservients"?) Cory gets graded on a regular basis and, although I am not anxious to return to a land of deadlines and evaluations, an 'A' would certainly feel good to see in reference to any efforts I have been attempting as of late, albeit not the grade I have probably earned.
Okay, but back to my girls' weekend. With the help of my step-it-up husband, 2 angel friends who endured my kids for a whole day, and a free Southwest ticket, I went to help my mother celebrate her 60th birthday. (Gulp! That seems entirely too big of a number for someone who gave birth to me. That would actually mean I'm in my 30's.) But when I say that I went to help my mom celebrate, what I meant to say is that I helped my mom throw the biggest party of the century. And when I say that I helped my mom throw a party, what I meant to say is that she worked my sisters and me like dogs for 3 days to get the party ready. It was not the relaxing weekend that I had envisioned. I had been looking forward to this time for a month -- anticipating the pedicure I would get, the old friends I would see, and the laziness I could indulge in without my ever present children. Well, I came back to Cali with the same worn and chipped toenails that I left with, the only old friends I saw belonged to my mother (except for my girlfriends who crashed the party), and the only thing I indulged in was the leftover frog-eye salad.
But the party was a success!! And after complaining for 3 days I came away amazed at what my mom can pull off and also at how many people love her. There were over 75 women there! Where I have a hard time finding 3 people to go to lunch with me, she managed to inspire 75+ women to attend a full-fledged luncheon in her honor complete with entertainment and gift bags. She has lived in the same house for 31 years, which is less than 10 miles from where she grew up, so there is a reason for her to have so many people in her life. But she definitely knows how to keep and cherish those friendships and her birthday was evidence of that fact. Although my mom and I might look alike, the resemblance stops there. What with her organizational skills, her inability to sit still, and her dislike of chocolate we couldn't be more different. But if I can accomplish the seemingly impossible task of raising fantastic kids without losing a sense of my individuality like she has, I will be proud of that accomplishment. I love you, Mom!! (But you owe me a real girls weekend. I have 2 words for you -- spa package.)
My sisters and me, up to our ears in frog eye salad (and flowers)
The entertainment. What party is complete without a magician?
That's A LOT of people!
