Grand Slam Communication
Bob risked his life and good health to go on a TP run to Walmart.
The shelves were cleared out.
But for a good reason.
There was a guy standing behind a counter doling out one package per customer.
That’ll work.
Next, Bob checked out the beer aisle.
There appeared to be no shortage.
He brought home a LOT of beer.
We are now well prepared for this quarantine.
I am so glad that my kids are grown.
I would not be surviving the quarantine if they were small.
One of them is perpetually cranky.
And the other is perpetually bouncy.
It’s not a good quarantine combo.
I feel bad for the stuck-at-home parents.
But there’s nothing I can do about that.
Because, you know, social distancing…
We’re in the midst of an international health crisis.
We’re quarantined.
We’re on house arrest.
And there’s no toilet paper to be purchased anywhere.
But still, it’s my mama’s birthday.
And we have a tradition.
She’s been gone nearly ten years, but I still make her favorite dinner on her birthday.
There’s no reason to stop now.
We’ll have chicken tetrazzini tonight.
Happy birthday Mom.
I miss you every day.
Both of the Grown Sons have type one diabetes.
They are at high risk for coronavirus.
Of course I am worried.
One of them has come home to endure his social isolation with us.
He’s been working remotely.
Cabin fever has set in because he hasn’t left his apartment in ages.
It looks like he’s going to stay with us for awhile.
He brought some food from his place.
This makes me very happy.
Not that we need the supplies.
But it shows me that he shops.
And keeps fresh food in his apartment.
If only he had brought some toilet paper.
I have a cold.
No, it’s not coronavirus.
No, it’s not the flu.
I sent Bob out last night to get some Nyquil.
I was worried that the stores would be cleared out of cold medication.
Bob had no problem finding me what I needed.
Plus some ice cream because it was on sale.
I find it odd that people are stocking up on toilet paper.
But not on cold medicine.
If things get bad around here, maybe we can barter with our Nyquil.
I am worried about coronavirus.
Both of the Grown Sons have type one diabetes.
With a compromised immune system, they are at high risk.
I discussed precautionary flu measures with them.
They both assured me that they have been methodically licking all public surfaces.
Yep, I’ve raised a couple of smarta$$es.
Oddly, that gives me a great measure of comfort.
They’re going to be OK.
The dog barked to go out at 5:00 am.
Bob dealt with it.
When I got up some time later, I expected to find the coffee brewed.
I was bitterly disappointed to see that Bob had fallen back to sleep on the couch.
And there was no coffee.
The beauty of not getting up with the dog is the expectation of hot coffee waiting for me.
Bob laughed and laughed and laughed.
Yeah, happy Leap Day to you too.
I’ll get my revenge.
On the next Leap Day.
I woke up this morning to find that I only had one earring.
These earrings were a birthday gift from my mom many, many years ago.
I never change them.
My ears are allergic to most earrings.
But these ones are gold, and they have been perfect for years.
And now one of them is missing.
I shook out my pajamas and my bedding.
No earring.
Yesterday I cleaned the house.
I dusted and mopped.
I did laundry and changed sheets and vacuumed.
The earring could be anywhere.
If I bought myself a new pair of earrings, it wouldn’t be the same.
Because these were a gift from my mom.
I searched the house hopelessly.
I checked the washer and the dryer.
I checked the clean laundry.
I checked the vacuum canister.
In the end, when I had given up all hope, I found it!
It was on the rug under my desk.
It must have fallen off after I had vacuumed.
Yay – I can continue to wear my mom’s birthday gift!
I have failed, once again, in my lifelong quest to never make cute food again.
It’s always a disaster.
This time I tried to make Valentine heart cookies.
They looked cute before they were baked.
But they puffed up in the oven.
And came out looking rather eczematous.
I wasn’t sure if they needed frosting or cortisone cream.
Well they turned out tasty even if they weren’t pretty.
And I will continue my quest to avoid making cute food.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
On this day, February 4, I became a mama.
My baby boy is now a grown man.
He inspires me every day with his determination.
And his work ethic.
And his quirky, subversive sense of humor.
I was a little worried on the day he was born.
I don’t know anything about sports. Or cars.
How am I going to raise a boy?
All these years later, I still don’t know anything about cars.
But this boy has turned me into a Super Fan.
Happy birthday to you, Kiddo.
I’m proud to be your mama.