Happy Thanksgiving to all. An interesting holiday this year,,well every year,,why should this one be any different? The girls went to Longview with their Dad to endure/enjoy time with GrandMonster and her minions. Lisa and her crew went to NiniTexas for a "red dirt" weekend of nagging, feasting and drawling. I was scheduled to make a Dallas appearance at Mary and Lisas house but fatigue and traffic kept me in Austin. Having a day to myself with no obligations or expectations was not a bad thing. Not exactly turkey dinner with the trimmings but not a bad thing. I got the laundry done, house clean, yard done,,and it wasn't even 11 yet. Decided to tackle the carnivorous thorned Seuss shrubs and beat them into submission. Edward Scissorhands I am not,,but I'm learning. I bought a hedge trimmer,,the electric kind. Bright orange and vicious it is a thing of beauty and does a grand job of gnawing through the overgrowth. I had finished the lower levels and was perched atop the mighty 3 ft step ladder trying to trim the head of the beast when one of the Medusa-ish thorned limbs snapped back catching me on the head and sending me head first into the enemy. The ladder elected not to get involved in the fracas and walked away leaving me dangling in the clutches of the monster. Oh joy. Bloodied and irritated I fought my way down and out, captured the turncoat ladder and gave the wicked shrubs a military style new do. Don't mess with the one that holds the hedge trimmer.
It was during the final shearing that Robert called and asked me to join his family for Thanksgiving dinner. Great. I mean,,GREAT. I had met the entire clan except for Mom and I had wanted very much to have that opportunity but,,I was a mess. A bloody irritated mess. JiminyChristmas,,ok,,thanks,,,I'd love to. I had two hours to stop the bleeding and transform myself into a polite, gracious, charming dinner guest worthy of the perfect mothers son. No problem. Where was my fairy godmother??
Eleven outfits later,,had to find something that hid most of the scratches and bruises,,knocked back a handful of ibuprofen with a diet coke chaser and headed out. Crap,,not a store open. I needed flowers or wine or SOMETHING to take the perfect mother but nothing open. Sigh. Great first impression I was about to make. Scratched, bruised and empty handed. I should have gone to Dallas. Sigh. Ok,,suck it up and go. She was of course,,perfect. All 90 lbs of her. Classical violinist. Petite blonde with incredible cheek bones. A gracious hostess. Dinner was delicious and different. Roberts older brother was there with his family,,met them before. All Buddhists. All vegetarians. Just back from a year long trip around the world. Brother Wyc and wife Jenny,,,four beautiful adolescent children,,Holly, Steve( Scott?), Jim and Amber. Roberts Dad,,in from San Diego,,,retired from the Navy, staunch Republican,,he told Robert I was "impressive in my beauty, intelligence, feisty spirit,,,,,and cleavage". Jeeeez. A dad commented on my bustline. Uncomfortable at best. The meal was grand,,opened with a Buddhist prayer,,turkey for those of us that ate meat,,a wild rice and mushroom dressing,,yams, green beans,,cranberry relish,,,pecan pie and raspberry tarts,,,delicious. Collapse to the couch after the meal. Awkward post dinner conversation,,politics,,,heated exchange between Wyc and Dad. I smiled and said nothing. Bailed in time for Grays Anatomy. Safe at home with my boys and my bed.
Today is a new day. No shrubs. No family. No shopping. Bliss.
