DAY 412

Good evening my corona friends and I trust everyone is doing well and almost feeling like we may be getting back to normal or wait, THE NEW NORMAL.  I didn’t realize that it has been well over a month since my last rant. That was Easter so since Today is Mother’s day I guess I am turning into a Holiday scribe. I went out early this morning for a stroll around the city. It was truly a glorious day, and there were certainly lots of people out. Today what was particularly noticeable to me was that people had actually put some serious effort into their attire, almost like their Easter outfits. Maybe because the weather was so lovely and they were taking their Momma’s out to dine, for maybe the first time in a year.  If there was ever a time to celebrate Moms I would say that after a year like 2020, they all deserve a Nobel Prize.  I know it was tough on all of us, but moms with young kids, any kids, or those caring for the ones in depends, it was freaking hard. Imagine having to work and monitor your online classes for the young ones.  I just have to imagine that all those parents who severely limited screen time, like everyone had to give in to it sooner or later, and no one will hold it against you. Heck, I just had myself and my roommate to take care of and I super OD’d on my screen time. I know I am late to the party on this but when I figured out a few months ago that I could watch on my IPAD with earplugs, I was in heaven and I wake up at night with those silly earbuds stuck in my ears, but I love it. I am pretty sure I have watched every BBC crime show for the last 15 years, but that is a whole other rant. Back to Mother’s day, I was thinking about my own Mom on my walk today and how truly extraordinary a woman she was and of course how much we didn’t appreciate it at the time.  She pretty much raised eleven children on her own, working nights in a hospital coming home and getting everyone fed and off to school so she could have some time to clean up, do several loads of wash, hang it outside on the clothesline, and be ready with the after school snacks, homework and dinner, before grabbing a nap before going off to work at 10:30 pm. OMG there is a reason my siblings and I only had two kids and some not any, exhausting and to think I used to cry to my Mom how hard it was with two babies and working. I had a nanny that lived with us, a supporting and very much participating husband, yes techie did everything, what must she have thought?   I know she always thought that I had landed the best husband and Dad in the world, and she always was amazed that I didn’t wait on him and serve him his meals, she often wondered “how does he keep you” her words.  She just never got that the world was changing and men could do their share, and we did try and please her on occasion and do the dishes on holidays because we didn’t want her to do it and God forbid the guys could do clean up. Well, Ma, guess what they are all doing the clean-up now and the world didn’t end.  Mom has been gone for more than twenty years but I still speak with her often and now I am getting to experience her best joy in life, Grandchildren. She was lucky enough to have an abundance of Grandkids and most lived close by so they spent a lot of time with her and reap the benefits of a super generous grandma. I am super lucky to have three grandchildren and come next month I will add another Grandson to the mix.  Charlie and Maisie live nearby so I see them all the time, Tilda is a short plane ride away and luckily I just spent a week with a wild two-year-old.  I have to get back to the gym to keep up with everyone.

I read recently what a lot of Mom’s wanted for this Mother’s day was away or two alone, just some me time.  I know after this past year it was even more important but I can remember wanting that as well when the kids were little, I would say to Techy I go away with the kids and you get to have the house to yourself, can you please go away for a night. Well we were invited to go hiking Saturday up a mountain and then stay in a hut with by daughter, son-in-law and two kids but longing for some me time I opted out but my roommate went along. I was thinking about how we were going to get Maisie, who is three to walk up that mountain when just a few days ago she couldn’t do the fifiteen minute walk to the Aquarium, without me carrying her, aching back was what I was thinking, plus you have to go outside to the composting toilet.  I opted to having this one BIG room to myself and suddenly it was palatial.  I keep the TV on rather loud and just binged on whatever I wanted.  I didn’t even mind when my friends cancelled the pizza party and I could stay in my jammies, heaven on earth is what I say and didn’t even answer the phone, well no one called anyway. I was thrilled to be invited out to Lunch with My niece Amy and family, back in the hood as they were the previous occupants of this big room.  Well what better way to top off Mother’s day than to have a facetime call with my kids Max, Erica, Hugh and Alana, arranged by my incredible daughter to toast all the Moms but what they really wanted to say that they booked a trip for all of us on Thanksgiving to Puerto Rico to kick start celebrating retirement.  Of course I thought they were kidding and didn’t get that excited but later when she sent the itinerary I felt unworthy and very special at the same time. Techie and I are both incredibly fortunate to have these great kids, and spouses, in our lives, plus the biggest plus are Charlie, Maisie, Tilda and the one they are calling Pancake soon to come.

Mom you would be proud and even if I find that they hacked my account and used my miles, I will be Ok with that, I am just glad they talk to me.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you Corona Moms and May the fourth be with you!

Just saying…………