My mom calls me while I'm at work and says, "Hey do you have plans tonight?"
"No." This is probably the worst answer I can give, because saying "No I don't have plans," is akin to saying "Sure, I can be your slave for the day. What can I do for you first?"
I really need to have other answers prepared. But I don't.
"Oh great. I was wondering if you'd like to go with me to..."
And in my head, I'm thinking: Is she going to take me to dinner? Or one of her spontaneous shopping sprees? Or maybe just a movie...
"Forest Lawn Mortuary? My coworker Burt died."
:(
I really should let her finish her sentences before I let my mind wander like that.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Work
About 4 years ago, I completed my credential in special education. Excited to get to work, I started looking for a new job. I was a little nervous and a little hesitant at the time, because I would begin working on my masters soon. My current job at a nonprofit school had offered me substitute work until I found something. Mom said, "Why don't you quit your job and just focus on school? I think that it's more important for you to finish school strong. You can always work after." This wasn't new to my ears. Mom had been asking me to quit my job for over a year. Although she is ofen proud of my altruism, she also worries that here aren't any limits to it.
As many people know, jobs are harder to come by these days. Giving up a perfectly good one before I had the next thing lined up seemed like a horrible decision. However, my mom's words had planted the seed, and I thought more and more about it. I had been offered educational loans, and a grant would be paying my tuition. If I lived frugally enough, I really could focus on school without working.
So one day, I did it. I when in to work and said that I was going to be leaving to focus strictly on school. I was willing to possibly return in summers and when the school desperately needed a sub, but emphasized that I should probably be last on the list.
I came home that day, proudly awaiting my moment to tell my mom what I had done. Her forehead wrinkled and she said, "Why would you do that? How are you going to live? You don't have a job now..."
As many people know, jobs are harder to come by these days. Giving up a perfectly good one before I had the next thing lined up seemed like a horrible decision. However, my mom's words had planted the seed, and I thought more and more about it. I had been offered educational loans, and a grant would be paying my tuition. If I lived frugally enough, I really could focus on school without working.
So one day, I did it. I when in to work and said that I was going to be leaving to focus strictly on school. I was willing to possibly return in summers and when the school desperately needed a sub, but emphasized that I should probably be last on the list.
I came home that day, proudly awaiting my moment to tell my mom what I had done. Her forehead wrinkled and she said, "Why would you do that? How are you going to live? You don't have a job now..."
Monday, May 20, 2013
70
Last October, I got to witness something truly amazing. I had spent the day with my mom and my younger brother in San Diego for my mom's 70th birthday. We arrived that night to our home, filled with family from San Francisco and some relatives. At about 10:45 that night we all paused when we heard screams by the front door. We all thought it might be the kids just playing and being loud, but we came to the front to check anyways.
My mom's best friend fell through the front door, shouting "He took my purse!"
Maybe it was adrenaline, but my brothers and I took off running after the guy. One of my older brothers grabbed the guy, but let him go when he looked like he might be reaching for a weapon.
My younger brother chased down the thief's car to get the plate number while I called the police.
When this all happened, my oldest brother had thrown himself over our nieces to protect them.
Because we had all reacted so quickly, the police were at our house within minutes. They chased the car down the freeway until the man crashed and fled on foot. The K-9 unit following him released a dog on him, and he surrendered after being bitten.
Later that night, the police found that the man had a gun in his car. We all would like to assume that it was our strength in numbers probably prevented him from having the opportunity to use it.
It goes without saying, but when it comes down to it, you protect the ones you love; it's the most valuable lesson we've learned from my mom.
My mom's best friend fell through the front door, shouting "He took my purse!"
Maybe it was adrenaline, but my brothers and I took off running after the guy. One of my older brothers grabbed the guy, but let him go when he looked like he might be reaching for a weapon.
My younger brother chased down the thief's car to get the plate number while I called the police.
When this all happened, my oldest brother had thrown himself over our nieces to protect them.
Because we had all reacted so quickly, the police were at our house within minutes. They chased the car down the freeway until the man crashed and fled on foot. The K-9 unit following him released a dog on him, and he surrendered after being bitten.
Later that night, the police found that the man had a gun in his car. We all would like to assume that it was our strength in numbers probably prevented him from having the opportunity to use it.
It goes without saying, but when it comes down to it, you protect the ones you love; it's the most valuable lesson we've learned from my mom.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Foodie Love from Pennsylvania
This is late, I know. I have been quite busy juggling work, family time, and a little bit of travel. But, oh, how I do ge so excited when the doorbell rings and a package stuffed with goodies awaits me. What can I say? I love surprises
This box came from Shelley in Pennsylvania. The barbecue chips were tasty, and so were the coffee cakes.
There were some Hershey bars and Reese's, which had to wait until after lent, but didn't last very long after. I have yet to try the funnel cake mix, but I have always wanted to make one. :)
This box came from Shelley in Pennsylvania. The barbecue chips were tasty, and so were the coffee cakes.
There were some Hershey bars and Reese's, which had to wait until after lent, but didn't last very long after. I have yet to try the funnel cake mix, but I have always wanted to make one. :)
Shoo fly pie! I had only ever heard of this in books. It was delicious!
I made this pasta with mushrooms and some nutty tofu balls. It didn't last long.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Foodie Love from Savannah
Agh! I'm late again...
February's box came from Bridget in Savannah, Georgia
here's the lovely note she included in my box. :)
oh man. It's like she KNOWS me. Spicy kale chips did not last very long, and they were the kind of spicy that creeps up on you. Pure green protein...I used to subsist on this back in my running days. Oh and the cutest little honey bear I've ever seen.
I can never really say it enough. I love tea.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Glasses
I used to work at Disneyland when I was in high school. For about the first year, my parents insisted on driving me to and from work, ensuring my safety if I wasn't behind the wheel. My dad is a punctual man, so if I ended a shift at 5, he'd be there promptly at 5:20 to pick me up, knowing that I would need those 20 minutes for the shuttle to drop me off in the employee parking lot. Unfortunately, this meant that my mom would arrive at 6:30. My mom has never been a slave to schedules. She was a career woman who prioritized time to be a mom whenever she could squeeze it in. (By no means are things exactly the same now, but this is half a lifetime ago for me.) We live about 15 to 20 minutes away, but honestly, this is just how she operates.
Mom would arrive in a hurry, honking the horn if I didn't approach the car fast enough. So one day, she picks me up the standard hour late.
She says, "Sorry. I really was going to be on time, but right when I was getting ready to leave, I couldn't find my glasses. I went and looked everywhere, and finally just found my old pair of glasses."
I stared blankly at her and said, "Oh. And then you realized that they were on top of your head?"
"What?!? They are?"
Those were the days before camera phones. Oh how I wished I had a picture of it to show you. My mom's old glasses were the huge ones that covered up half your face. And the look of surprise was priceless, as she touched the top of her head and realized that I was telling the truth.
She insisted on sharing this story with everyone who would listen that week.
Mom would arrive in a hurry, honking the horn if I didn't approach the car fast enough. So one day, she picks me up the standard hour late.
She says, "Sorry. I really was going to be on time, but right when I was getting ready to leave, I couldn't find my glasses. I went and looked everywhere, and finally just found my old pair of glasses."
I stared blankly at her and said, "Oh. And then you realized that they were on top of your head?"
"What?!? They are?"
Those were the days before camera phones. Oh how I wished I had a picture of it to show you. My mom's old glasses were the huge ones that covered up half your face. And the look of surprise was priceless, as she touched the top of her head and realized that I was telling the truth.
She insisted on sharing this story with everyone who would listen that week.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Orphans
It's the last day of our tour of Asia. I'm leaving tonight, but my mom will stay behind for 3 weeks to keep her sisters company; they are still mourning the loss of their brother.
My mom says, "We're running out of time. What do you want to do? Go shopping or get a massage?"
If you know me, you know I'd choose a massage over shopping any day. I'd have an empty closet, but I'd be soooo relaxed.
But if you know my mom, you'd know shopping is the only right answer to this question. It's not even really a question; it's a trick...
Rather than play our usual game of selective hearing, I decided on a third option. I said, "Do you think that maybe we could just visit the orphanage you told me about?"
She said, "Oh, that's a good idea."
We walked across the Ayala bridge to Hospicio de San Jose, which turns out to be more of a community outreach center with religious ties. The grounds contain a nursery, sleeping quarters for school aged children, and residences for aging adults.
As soon as we were within reasonable distance from the sign, we stopped to take a picture. When we got closer... I came up to the side of the nursery where there was a turning cradle. It was like a big drawer, where women could place their babies if they didn't feel like they could care for them properly. It made me more than a little sad, thinking about what a difficult choice that must be.
Then she called my name. She got impatient when I didn't turn around right away. "Debbie! Turn around!" Her next word shocked me the most. "Smile!"
She took a picture of me. Why she wanted me to smile in it is beyond me.
So I didn't smile.
Yup. That's the face I make when she confuses me.
I will never fully understand her. So I just laugh a little inside.
My mom says, "We're running out of time. What do you want to do? Go shopping or get a massage?"
If you know me, you know I'd choose a massage over shopping any day. I'd have an empty closet, but I'd be soooo relaxed.
But if you know my mom, you'd know shopping is the only right answer to this question. It's not even really a question; it's a trick...
Rather than play our usual game of selective hearing, I decided on a third option. I said, "Do you think that maybe we could just visit the orphanage you told me about?"
She said, "Oh, that's a good idea."
We walked across the Ayala bridge to Hospicio de San Jose, which turns out to be more of a community outreach center with religious ties. The grounds contain a nursery, sleeping quarters for school aged children, and residences for aging adults.
As soon as we were within reasonable distance from the sign, we stopped to take a picture. When we got closer... I came up to the side of the nursery where there was a turning cradle. It was like a big drawer, where women could place their babies if they didn't feel like they could care for them properly. It made me more than a little sad, thinking about what a difficult choice that must be.
Then she called my name. She got impatient when I didn't turn around right away. "Debbie! Turn around!" Her next word shocked me the most. "Smile!"
She took a picture of me. Why she wanted me to smile in it is beyond me.
So I didn't smile.
Yup. That's the face I make when she confuses me.
I will never fully understand her. So I just laugh a little inside.
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