Sarah
Because I’m an adult, I could decide one morning in VA to drive that afternoon to the family’s home in NY.
I could
- rent a Toyota Corolla for $13/day from hotwire.com
- stop by the airport to pick up the car, stop by my office to pick up my notes, stop by the bank to make a deposit
- forgive myself for running late
- forgive that driver who called me a b, when I’m pretty sure she was the one who cut me off
- drive 4 miles out of my way to stop at a Chik-Fil-A
- pay $.50 additional for a whole wheat bun
- pay with my debit card
- identify that odortastic smell in the car as the residue of cigarette-smoke-plus-chemical-cleaners-used-in-futility
- drive with my windows down and my AC on
- blast religious talks so loud that at tolls I’m competing with bass-thumping convertibles
- travel the I-95, to the NJ Turnpike, through the Holland Tunnel, and down and around Brooklyn to Queens to the family’s home, with confidence and aplomb, despite making false turns and hitting serious BQE/workday evening traffic
- surprise my younger sisters at their mid-week religious young women’s activity
- say no to free brownies
- give four people rides home
- chat with Joanna, though I didn’t know her and though I had a headache
- graciously avoid other guests lurking around our home
- coordinate with Mom and Manfriend about our next day’s schedule and Manfriend’s plan to join us
- be so grateful for, so excited to see Manfriend
- brush and floss, change into my pajamas, put on a new hoodie, and take 1000 mg of ibuprofen
- crawl into my mom’s bed and move my feet around to heat up the cold sheets
- wait for Mom patiently and without crying. Mostly.
And, when Mom finally came in, saw me, smiled and said, “Oh,” and then lay down to comfort me, I could stay in her arms until we both fell asleep.
Because I am an adult, I could still need my mother.
20 comments
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May 3, 2010 at 7:04 am
living in zion
I’m glad you did.
May 3, 2010 at 7:15 am
smylies
Loved this one Sarah. So glad you’re a mature adult. What happens when we’re adults our parents’ age? Who do we cuddle up to then?
May 3, 2010 at 7:22 am
Annette
Sometimes adults just need their mommies. I know I do.
May 3, 2010 at 8:02 am
sarahlolson
living in zion, thank you. Me too. Me, me too.
Smylies, I don’t know, R. Body pillows? Or maybe our grandchildren. Grandchildren sound great.
Annette, sometimes I totally get why so many cultures have grandparents living in their children’s homes. We poo-poo it in our culture, but for goodness’s sake–let’s not pretend there couldn’t be upsides.
May 3, 2010 at 8:24 am
nakiru
This made me cry a little, and reminded me of my post about my mom last year. Yay for being old enough to recognize what you need.
May 3, 2010 at 8:55 am
rvs
I was toying with doing something very similar yesterday. I hope things work out for you. It was a lovely post.
May 3, 2010 at 9:31 am
moddy
Love it, in a little over a month I will get to do the same thing with my mom, I can’t wait!
May 3, 2010 at 9:32 am
Rachel Eaton
poetic and true.
Thanks!
May 3, 2010 at 9:43 am
Christina
I feel like this could be an illustrated children’s book.
May 3, 2010 at 10:56 am
living in zion
Christina,
Let’s do it in Dr. Suess colors, with the whimsical creatures and it would make a mint as a graduation gift.
Or you could go the other way and do it like “The Blue Day” series of books with matching photos of animals in arresting poses.
Either way, I think you are on to something.
At the very least etch it on a mirror and sell it at the Hallmark store near you.
May 3, 2010 at 12:13 pm
gamma
I just got back from mommy & daddy’s in distant AZ, and your post touched my heart. I already miss them, but I also am glad to be home.
Smylies, when you become your parents’ age, they will need cuddling from you. Luckily, by then, cuddling will be second nature to you, and you will cuddle all your relations of every age, even the ones who shrug and pretend they don’t like it.
Sarah, grandchildren are excellent for both giving and receiving cuddles. Thanks for a fantastic post.
May 3, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Sharon
Mmm. This is one of my new favorites. And reading it made me want to be a better adult in all sorts of ways.
May 3, 2010 at 12:28 pm
kt
I missed my mom this weekend and really wanted to sit on her lap. This post resonated with me. Thanks, slo.
May 3, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Chantal
I love your writing.
May 4, 2010 at 1:17 am
AnnaBeth
Happy almost Mother’s Day to your mom!
And I hope my Emma grows up to be just like you.
May 4, 2010 at 3:59 am
Julie Olson
Dearest Sarihah, I am sorry that I didn’t get my turn on the computer until now. If I can comfort you still, in part of the way you are a comfort to me now—then it is a happy day for both of us. Love, Momski
May 4, 2010 at 9:36 am
Stace
Okay, that last post made me cry. We’re getting set to move–husband, baby, and me–into my parents’ home, and I’m embarrassingly anxious to have my mom constantly by my side. I’m discovering points in my adult life where I need her more than I ever thought I did as a youth.
May 4, 2010 at 2:50 pm
sister
Let’s notice that Mom posted her comment at 3:59am this morning. I teach early morning seminary too, but seriously, waking before 4am on purpose is just….like Mom. Had I seen you waiting for Mom in her bed, I would have smooshed you like our post-seminary days. I miss you Sasha.
May 5, 2010 at 1:59 pm
louise Plummer
Nice daughter, nice mother.
May 10, 2010 at 11:16 am
"Justin"
Give four people rides home? Did you vet all of these passengers through the approved grammar and style usage process?