This past Sunday was Mothers' Day. I had been looking forward to a leisurely day, for the most part, enjoying the company of my sweetie, daughter and son-in-law and my own Mom. I got up around 8 AM ready to have a light breakfast, take a quick shower and head out on the 35 minute journey to get Bernie (my Mom) while my Sweetie cooked the seafood chowder I had been anticipating all week. My daughter called and reported that she had a fever so I told her to stay away as not to potentially expose anyone to anything. Before I made it downstairs, I turned around and found Tony leaning against the door frame of our bedroom. I could tell right away that he was in the throws of a back spasm - something I am more than a little acquainted with on a very personal level. Get back in bed, I told him. I gave him a muscle relaxer and admonished him not to dare get out of bed while I was gone. I got all the ingredients lined up and the veggies chopped. By then it was 10:30 AM so I decided to reluctantly forego the shower and shampoo I desperately wanted and more importantly - needed! So I took a quick "spit bath" (not literally in case you are wondering). Most of you know exactly what I mean. I pulled on some clothes and wrangled with my hair until I gave up and accepted that I was going to look like a fraggle no matter what. Those of you with grown children of a certain age (and I'm not saying what age!) will certainly remember the kids' show "Fraggle Rock). I finally made it out the door only to reach the car and remember that I left my cell phone upstairs. I started up the stairs and yelled to Tony that I had forgotten my keys as not to alarm him. He's suppose to be in bed under my direct orders. Right? Wrong! I got to the top of the stairs to find him leaning in our bedroom doorway Again - with a sheepish look on his face. Where do you think you're going I said. I'm feeling better so I thought I'd go down and do some things to help you with lunch. No way. Get your Bhind back in the bed I say and STAY THERE! Do not aggravate me by being stubborn I tell him. I'll be back as soon as I can. Off I go at long last. We had both failed to remember to get a stock pot in which to cook the chowder so I swung into Target with the intention of grabbing a stock pot, and the few other food items I needed and be on my way. Little did I know that there IS no more plain old stock pots. Everywhere I looked there was a line of Food Network Queens' cookware lines. Paula Dean, Giada, etc; then there was cephalon, tefalon and on and on. By then I was totally confused and frustrated. I just wanted a PLAIN OLD STOCK POT! Not a $60 investment. I finally found one on the last isle that seemed to be sufficient without breaking the bank. Then I headed to the frozen section and prayed that I could find the heavy cream and raspberries I needed for the white chocolate bread pudding but held little hope that I really would. I found both to my amazement. YES, now we're in business. I got to the nursing home at 11:15 and helped Bernie change into the new clothes I'd bought her and managed to get back on the road by about 11:40. I called Tony to say we were on the way and was informed that he had made tea and a done a couple of other things but had to rest every 15 minutes or so. I didn't even bother to fuss. Bad patient! We arrived back home about 12:15. By the time I got Bernie in and settled, it was past her lunch time so I gave her a snack before I began to put the chowder together. Every few minutes my Mom would ask me if she could help. Noooo... I tell her, just sit there and keep me company. All I needed was for her to take a fall and break something - like a hip! About 1:30 we finally sat down to eat a very late lunch. The chowder was delicious if I do say so myself. I realized why it tasted so good and so rich. I had accidently put heavy cream in it instead of half and half. Ummmm. After a leisurely meal I suggested that Bernie take a nap while I cleaned the kitchen and made the bread pudding. My beds are all high off the floor. Bernie was 4'11" at her tallest and now at 81 she may be 4' 8" at most. She could not get up on the bed by herself, I could not get her up there and I forbade Tony to even try. Go get the step stool out of the garage I told him - knowing all the while that he would not be able to find it. Sure enough he came back empty handed. Just stay right here and DO NOT let her fall I told him. I realized my tone oozed the irritability that I was beginning to feel. I searched every corner of the garage and failed to find the stool also. I was also beginning to think Iwas going to have to tell her to just forget about the nap since neither Tony or I could get her up on the bed. I suddenly remembered that I had stored the exercise step under the bed. The one I have been meaning to use for the past two years. I dragged it out and sure enough she thought that it was just the cat's meow. I got her tucked in and started putting the bread pudding together at 3:15 pm. At four I woke sleeping beauty up and served hot bread pudding with white chocolate sauce and raspberry compote. My first attempt and a smashing sucess. At 5 pm we were back in the car and speeding back toward Columbia, MS. By the time we got there and I got her settled in it was 6 pm. I pulled into our carport at 6:45 pm, exhausted and eagerly looking forward to a long over due hot shower and BED! The day didn't turn out exactly the way I had anticipated but all in all it was a great day. It brings to mind that we can't always count on things turning out the way they think they will and it is important to make the most of every moment of every day.
HAPPY MOTHER"S DAY TO ME !
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