I suppose that for a Saturday, you could've called me an early bird this morning. I was up and out of the house by 11:00am to meet my Mom at my old stompin' grounds, the Kipling Station Kiss n' Ride. Thankfully, the Motherload seemed to be in good form morning; we managed not to kill each other in the first five minutes - always a good sign.
We headed straight to Zellers at Cloverdale Mall. Their breakfast special rocks and my Mom thinks the Waitress there is the best Waitress ever (and my Mom is super hard on Waitresses). OK, so our breakfast took more than 10 minutes (exactly around the time when Mother gets itchy) so she had to ask someone (not OUR Waitress, of course) to find out when, exactly, we would get our meal. I asked her if she was even hungry, because I wasn't starving, and she told me she wasn't. My argument was why make such a big stink over WHEN we'd get it if she wasn't even hungry? And she explained that we had already been there (by this time) 11 minutes. That was the end of the explanation.
After we paid the bill, Mom asked me if it was OK if she used the bathroom. I told her my usual response, "Umm, No!" and she proceeded to go anyways. I pondered buying some socks for the Kirbler, but remembered our budget and decided that it wasn't necessary.
We ventured out to the mall. Hit the Smart Set looking for a gift for Kirb's Sister (it was her B-day yesterday). I found this sweater that was perfect, but it only came in extra small. I talked myself into thinking that it was the right choice and that it would fit her beautifully. I should've bought the Medium fer myself - bah.
Mom snagged the perfect gift at the Laura Secord’s - a caramel apple makin' kit.
When I was little, I had this babysitter, Patricia, who would let me choose any recipe that we actually had the ingredients for, and let me make it. My favourite was taffy. It would get so hot and waiting for it to cool was like waiting for an eternity. Needless to say, her gift was a real hit.
So the gifites were purchased and rather than dropping off at the local Firkin' for a beer, Mom and I chose to be responsible and wrap the presents at her house. We went, we wrapped, I rubbed her feet, and we headed over to the Diller's for cake...
... When we got there, his folks were nowhere to be found. So we hung out with his Sister's and the Kids just waiting for the action to begin. Finally, they rounded the corner and headed up to the house. We didn't even see his Mom for the first little while. I realized (eventually) that she was in the kitchen preparing a meal. I couldn't let them think we expected to be fed, so I told his Dad that we only expected cake, but he explained that this is the way it is and to just accept it.
It's hard to, simply, accept a way of life that you aren’t accustomed to. I managed somehow.
Over dinner, Lauren decided to play this game with me where she has this notebook where she writes secret messages to me and I'm supposed to response in the notebook she provided for me. Somehow, I'm supposed to carry-on an adult conversation and respond to my little pal. You can't imagine the difficulty. And you can't imagine a little pal with so much spunk.
OK, so then we finished our fabulous meal, and we ate some cake (insert picture of cute little family blowing out the candles on a beautiful cake) and then it was time for her to open up her presents. She got jewellery form her Sis, a sweater that (didn't fit) from me and the Kirb, a homemade card from Lauren INCLUDING a poem that she AGONIZED about for 30 minutes straight. And a bottle of JD from the folks. Thank God for the folks.
By this time, it was time to go. I couldn't exactly read Mother; she seemed kinda tired, but not in any real rush to leave. I was pooped and couldn't wait to be with my Fella. It was 8:00 on a Saturday. "Why do I have to leave? Do I have to do chores - clean up and the like?"
"No. I just want to go home and pepper my fella with kisses!" I think his Mother was pleased (even if I don’t cook). Mom and I got out of the house and headed down the driveway towards the car. Both of us got inside at the same moment and took a long deep breath; we were both exhausted and so thrilled to be part of a family that is so cool and so loving and accepting. They have no attitude - they're just regular people who accept those around them for WHO they are and WHAT they're all about. They heed no pressure to reform to anyone that they think you should be. I have finally found home.
xo Kate
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