Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Mom and I Live at Wal-Mart These Days...

It was lunch.  I was standing over my kitchen counter eating a bowl of corn flakes when the phone rang.

"Will you take me to Wal-Mart?" my mother asked. "I don't think I can drive today."

"Sure," I said apprehensively with my mouth still full of and chewing on milk and corn flakes. "I'll pick you up in a minute. I've already had a shower and am dressed."

As we were driving down, I asked mom what we needed.

"Coconut for ambrosia," she replied. "Your father is making it this afternoon for Christmas."

I don't get dad sometimes.  Here, lately, he has been saying my mother needs to slow down.  That she is on a high and spending lots of money.  On the other hand, he sends her on these Don Quixote like goose chases and she is shaky mentally.  She sure sounded shaky as we drove and talked - like she was manic and out of breath.

Well, we found the shredded frozen coconut.  Mom will just walk up to any old soul and ask, "Do you work here?"  It drives my social anxieties crazy and I will hang my head low and slowly pace trying to calm down.  Aren't we just the pair? Mom and I?

Wal-Mart was gang busters.  I thought we would never get out of there.  "I am never gonna get home," I thought as we stood in line to check out. "I am going to be dust and bones before all this is said and done."

Well, I made it home.  As I drove into mom and dad's driveway, I sighed and lit a cigarette.

"You okay?" mom asked. "I almost had an anxiety attack!"

"Me too," I replied. "Me too."

Mom thanked me and it was so good to come home to Maggie.  She was so glad to see me and made sure I was properly sniffed to see where I've been.  I wonder if some people thrive in such busy environs - the happy, social, maniacal people that so mystify me.  "Good to be home after all that," I thought again as I melted into the couch, turned on the weather channel, and lit another soothing smoke.  I was home....

17 comments:

This IS The Fun Part! said...

And look at the what you did! Your mother would have absolutely died had you not been able to be there with her.

You have discovered that when your mother really needs you, you can pull it together and give her the support and protection that she needs from her son!

What a great gift to give yourself here at Christmas!

Look at what you're doing . . stop and reflect on the past couple of weeks and see all the reasons you have to be so much more confident and proud of yourself!

I'm lovin' this!
Grannie

mommy2twogirls said...

Just to see if this works.

mommy2twogirls said...

Okay! So now I can comment on your blogs! It the old college friend, L.
I absolutely will not go near Wal-Mart for the next two days. You were very brave going in there with all the crowds. If I need something, I would probably go in the Kroger instead. I'm glad you did this for your Mom. I think she really needed you. You are such a wonderful writer and a wonderful son!

forsythia said...

This was not a day to mess with Wal-Mart, but your mom was a lady with a mission and you helped her accomplish it. Bravo.

I love the dogs sniff at you when you come home to see where you've been and whether you've been seeing other dogs.

Christina said...

seeing other dogs!? LOL...imagine Maggie finding the scent of another dog on you, and turning around and peeing on your foot!

HAH!

Irishcoda said...

I saw Grannie's comment and I so totally agree with her! I was wondering what your dad was thinking too and if he wanted the coconut so much why didn't he go get it, LOL...anyway, definitely stay away from Walmart tomorrow! I hope I don't have to go near *any* store tomorrow!

mommy2twogirls said...

By the way, I Like your new background. Keep it! It looks much happier!

Leann said...

Every where is a madhouse right now. My son and I went to Verizon and even it was packed!

mago said...

Merry Christmas Andrew!

Tokyo Biker Mommy said...

Hi Andrew, i have to put in my 2 cents on your background - i hate it! :)

I find the red dots distracting behind the text, and they absolutely ruin your beautiful photos.

Otherwise, love your blog, your humor and your writing. I'm an alcoholic and take meds for depression and anxiety and you give me strength.

Now don't let that go to your head! :):)

Anonymous said...

Why didn't u answer my question re the absence of the days of sobriety counter on ur blog? I'm not the same anon who called u a suck! Please continue to be polite and answer readers' respectful queries! Also ,sir , look up vicarious & alienated in a dictionary! Obviously , u have little idea what they mean.

Anonymous said...

Why didn't u answer my question re the absence of the days of sobriety counter on ur blog? I'm not the same anon who called u a suck! Please continue to be polite and answer readers' respectful queries! Also ,sir , look up vicarious & alienated in a dictionary! Obviously , u have little idea what they mean.

Andrew said...

Grannie, it is amazing the difference in me lately, huh? I've taken on a new dimension both on the blog and in my real like. I could never do a few weeks ago what I did yesterday. Thank you for the kind words. You are an inspiration.

L!!!!!!!!!!! Hey old college friend!!!! OMG!!!!! You are commenting. Happy, Happy. Joy, Joy. I know you can't comment often due to your Internet connection, but a comment from you every now and then would thrill this old man's soul. I am so very happy to have you joining us and value so much what you have to say!

Forsythia, I laughed at your comment about dogs. It reminds me of husbands and wives and the wife finding lipstick on his collar or smelling of perfume. Betrayal if you've been with other dogs!!!! LOL

Christina, I know. It was funny wasn't it. Maggie is such a card as well.

Irishcoda, I am having a nice and quiet day at home today, Christmas Eve. We open immediate family gifts tonight and I absolutely cannot wait to get my I-Pod! Oh, I'm not going anywhere near Wal-Mart or any store for that matter today. Yesterday was enough to last me for weeks.

Leann, I know. It is crazy right now. Maybe it is a sign the economy is recovering. I hope so!

Mago, Merry Christmas to you too good friend and commenter and advice giver. I appreciate you "being back" and commenting on the blog again very much.

Hey, Tokyo Biker Mommy, I love the template! I think it is one of my better ones in years. I hate you hate it. My people pleaser nature wants everybody to be happy. Thank you for the kind words and I won't let it go to my head! :-)

Anon, sorry I didn't answer your question. I didn't know if you were serious or not. It is hard to tell with anonymous comments because you can't put the message to a person. I lost my sobriety counter when I changed to this template and didn't have any idea where I got it from or how to retrieve the html code. I think you would find that I wouldn't be writting a blog if I were drinking. I would be sitting in my den drunk, smoking cigarettes, and watching bad TV as I swilled beers. Take care and sorry I didn't answer back sooner.

Christina said...

Andrew, you answer rude, cowardly anonymous commenters with grace and courtesey. None of which that troll deserves.

Bravo to you and Merry Christmas!!!

Anonymous said...

To cris- my comment was polite but yours wasn't. What an abusive , testy character you are! Where were you raised? A trailer park?

Anonymous said...

To cris- my comment was polite but yours wasn't. What an abusive , testy character you are! Where were you raised? A trailer park?

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