Talk about a week of contrasts! We've had Timothy this week for a couple of days. He got his first big-boy haircut on Thursday. He was such a trooper... didn't cry...didn't wiggle. Living in a small town often has great advantages, and this was no exception. My friend since childhood, Tiger, did the haircut, and he was a pro all the way. It had even more meaning because he gave Timmy such special care and attention.
Yesterday was "beauty shop day," so Greg kept Timothy while I took Mam-ma to get her hair done and shopped for groceries. Timmy had not taken a good morning nap, so he was a little unhappy... but he did take a short nap while I was away. Mam-ma was napping when I arrived, but she arose and began getting ready to go to the hairdresser's while I dispensed some medicine and checked her doors to make sure they were locked.
Mam-ma had called me earlier in the week and asked if I would take her to a birthday party for her friend Lois, who will be 101 soon. I told her I would. On the way home from the beauty shop, I said, "We need to talk about the party... what time do you want to go?" She said, "Well... they start serving lunch at noon, so I guess about 11:30." I reminded her that she had mentioned going early to visit with Lois, and she said, "Yes... that's right... let's go at 10:30." I suggested maybe 10:30 was too early... that Lois might not be there, and she said, "She lives there (with her daughter)!" I knew that, but I offered that she might not be ready to receive guests for a noon lunch at 10:30 a.m., and Mam-ma retorted, "Well, she will!" I asked how long we were staying, and she said, "Oh... I think an hour or so after we eat will be sufficient." Then she added... "Of course, they may insist I stay longer!" We may be there all afternoon!
So I told Mam-ma I would pick her up at 10:30 a.m. I asked... "Does this mean you are skipping church?" (Her church service starts at 10:30 a.m.) She said she was. A few blocks later, she said, "I tell you what... let's go at 10:45." I told her that would be fine... I'd be there to pick her up and take her. I hurriedly unpacked her groceries and headed home. It was 95 degrees at 3:00 p.m. with a heat index about 105 degrees, and I had ice cream in the grocery sack! I told her I would be back on Sunday, and she said she planned to rest this weekend for the party.
We were expecting my childhood friend and neighbor and her three grandchildren to visit us and have dinner, so I needed to hurry home and get things in order. Our friends arrived about 5:30, and we made frozen pizzas and sat down to eat. The phone rang...it was Mam-ma. "Do you know what I forgot? I forgot to get a birthday card for Lois." I told her, "You have a drawer full of birthday cards, don't you?" She replied, "Well yes, but not one that says 'Happy 101st!'" I told her I had never seen a card that said "Happy 101st" - that I'd seen them for the 100th birthday, but I seriously doubted there even is a card for the 101st. I suggested she pick out her prettiest card and write a sweet note in it. She reluctantly said, "Well, I guess that's what I'll have to do." I didn't tell her we had company - and she didn't ask.
Today, while Timmy and I were napping, the phone rang. I answered and quietly said "Hello?" I heard Mam-ma say, "I bet you have the baby." I told her yes, he was here, and she said, "Well, I'll tell you this fast... Lois is not feeling well, so we're not going as early to the party. Let's go at 12:30. I told her that would be fine. A few hours later, she called and said, "Let's go at noon." I told her noon it is. She said, "I think they are going to cut the cake at 1:30, so let's go at noon and beat the crowd." Now obviously she still plans to be there at 1:30, but we're going at noon - for now! She added, "Go ahead and go to church." Then she asked... "What time does your church end?" I told her 10:30, and we would be fine. So for the moment, we're going at noon! I have no idea how this is going to go beyond that!
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