The Battlefield Where the Girls Say I Love You



That's just the thing: we will never tell you we love you. In fact, we're here only to hold hands across state lines and yell at the world. We're here to try to touch you across this chasm of flown things. Not even that. At most, I will teach you how to make a gin smoothie when there's nothing left in the house. Hannah can teach you several languages and what to do when your car breaks up with you. Thanks for coming out.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

happy adorable tyrant's day!

before my mother came to visit a few weeks back, i did all the scrubbing, polishing, and folding
i don't normally do. as we walked up the stairs, i said, "excuse the baseboards. i know the baseboards need some work."

"mame, you overestimate me. i'd never have noticed."

only, when i turn around, she's straightening a lamp shade. then a painting.

we were going to dinner, so i stayed upstairs to change. when i came down, magazines had been fanned on my 4 dollar coffee table: bon apetit, gourmet, budget travel, real simple.

the irony is that i can't find my box labeled "silverware, pots and pans" and am too cheap to go get new cookery...am convinced i'm going to find them somewhere.

***
yesterday, i asked what she wanted to do for mother's day. because i am her spawn, this sort of question makes her panic (fear of commitment, fear of commitment).
"mamie, dear, i want to do exactly what i want to do tomorrow. i don't want a timeline. i won't be pressured. if i even hear the word schedule... i want to clean the porch and work in the garden. and i don't want any gifts. absolutely nothing. except a bottle of veuve clicquot and lobsters shipped from maine. and you're welcome to come by."
absolutely nothing. except a bottle of veuve clicquot and lobsters shipped from maine.
there is a scene in when harry met sally when harry says, "there are two types of women. low-maintenance and high maintenance."
"what kind am i?" sally asks.
"you're the worst kind. you're high-maintenance, but you think you're low-maintenance."
***
when i called my sister this morning to wish her a happy mother's day (and also to confirm she'd be home when i delivered the gift-wrapped 6-pack of mich ultra lime cactus) she answered the phone as she always does: slightly annoyed and, apparently, barely clinging to life.

"hello," she says. "what."

"hey. what are you doing?"

"well, i was lying on the couch watching indiana jones. until you called and i had to get up." she sighs.

"you're such a joy," i say. "i don't tell you enough."

"whatever," she says. "are you coming over or not?"

1 comment:

hannah said...

meanwhile, i'm just feeling pretty great abt convincing aaron that we should see iron man instead of speedracer--

yes, the former has more explosions, more language, more villainous people with burnt off faces... but aaron!! a 92% on rotten tomatoes versus 35%!! huh huh??

so i don't care about lobster and veuve clicquot. don't care at all. shuddup. i just have something in my eye!