At least for today, time is on my side. In four more days I’ll be will be hosting a Mother’s Day celebration for 40 guests. Just a little get together for lunch. Nothing big. Just a beef brisket prepared by MM on the new barbeque. Guests are to bringing the side dishes while we’re planning to have the best Mother’s Day ever!
Let me tell you this. No matter how much you think everything around the house look great, there are always ten more things to do. Up until this morning, there have been days full of pulling weeds and cleaning up the RV barn. Tables are in position, there’ve been numerous trips to the store for tablecloths and cutlery. Even the house plants got their semi-annual spa day complete with a shower and Miracle-Grow treatment.
By the way, the 40 people include immediate family only. One sweet Mom. Five great sons and their wives. Kids. Grandkids. Great Grandkids. And me. I came from a huge farm family like this, so it doesn’t seem strange at all.
The great thing about MM’s family is that they’ll add the FUN to the day! There’ll be littles running around Winterpast. How great will that be? We’re preparing games and activities for them. The adults always have lots to talk about, with the brothers keeping everyone in laughter with their stories and brotherly bantering. Time will fly by all too quickly and by next week, the quiet of the neighborhood will return. Mother’s Day 2023 will be one of the best in the history of Mother’s Days.
I will say that there have been a few shocks on my shopping trips. Since when did soda cost $4.99 a six-pack? I think we’ll offer cucumber water and herbal tea. A trip to the grocery store equals my first house payment back in 1977.
For the next few days, Winterpast will continue to get a good scrubbing. I’ll alert the neighbors if I happen to see them out. We just might be a little loud in the afternoon. Could be problematic if people are napping. They’ll probably want to close the windows. Or, better yet, just come over and get in line. There’ll be plenty.
Mother’s Day will be all the sweeter because MM’s mom, Miss B, will be over with friends. It wouldn’t be a party without her. MM is blessed. She’s the coolest mom who raised her 5 boys to grow up to be friends as adults. Men who have made great lives living with integrity, they are all unique. Time FIVE. That speaks volumes to her motherly qualities.
She called on Tuesday to find out what she should bring. Just like that, I’m one of the gang. One of the many miracles that has happened over the last year. When I moved in to Winterpast three years ago, I knew Miss Firecracker and her husband, Bailey’s and Cream. Covid was still raging so we didn’t get to visit in person. Time wasn’t on our side then, and Bailey’s and Cream died that summer without ever getting to come over for a cup of coffee. And then, there were just Miss Firecracker and Me. Two widows.
Miss Firecracker moved West, leaving the Sierra Nevada’s between us.
And then, there was just me.
Over the months, my garden of friends has blossomed to the best group of girlfriends sprouting all over town. It’s a given that when I go shopping in town, I’ll meet at least one person I know well. Now, with the addition of a huge family to share, my dusty little town at the wide spot off the interstate is my true home.
My children will be celebrating with their own families. From Michigan to Nebraska, from California to Mexico, they’ve scattered with the wind to places they call home. Kids do that once they aren’t kids anymore. I guess VST and I were the first to blow away on a Zephyr Wind to Nevada. We always were the feral parents.
Whatever you do today, it’s not to late to honor your mother or special woman in your life with recognition of some kind. A call. A card. Some flowers. A gift. The mothers of this earth are very special people. Make their day a day to remember. Time is on our side, Yes It Is.
More tomorrow.