“Well here we are”, said Mom as we drove out of the driveway on Monday morning at 5am.
“What does that mean?”, chortled Dee from the back seat. Hysteria set in. I should have gone to the bathroom one more time before getting behind the wheel. We were on our way to Kentucky to see Mom’s sisters.
To say it was a command performance negates the fact that the 3 of us get along beautifully, but performance it was. Mom wanted to go and we wanted to be with her. Northerners, (in our family) have to perform for the Southerners at times. More like we need to prove the Northern relatives aren’t a bunch of dimwits, and power comes in numbers.
We have a hard time sitting and talking but we appreciate good stores and good food. Southern stores, Southern food.
We had our roles to play. Mom was the Big Sister (BS). Dee was the advisor (A). I was the driver (D).
The Advisor bucked up the Big Sister and the Driver spoke when spoken to.
“You are the BS, you call the shots”, reminded A.
“Wait…does that mean I get to call the shots with you?” asked D.
“Turn left for the mall”, said BS and A.
Funny how short that conversation was.
When the discussion got political,
“Not going there”, said A.
“Preaching to the choir”, added D.
“I wonder if it was wise to bring the girls”, thought BS.
“You are going to take off that awful jean jacket before we go to the party aren’t you?”, asked Sister T.
D nodded and wondered if her dress, without the jacket, would make her look fat. (Yup.)
A smirked.
BS ignored it all.
“I want chicken for dinner “, announced A.
“Not KFC I hope”, said the Southerner.
“Of course not”, said A, D and BS.
Luckily our cuz suggested a place started by the Colonel’s ex-partner. His contribution to the secret recipe may have included cooking the chicken until it was bone dry but it sure was good.
BS showed a sense of humor, diplomacy and kindness throughout.
A exhibited an uncanny ability to set up challenges. “Hey D, how many times can you include the word kale into the conversation”.
D focused on not having anxiety attacks while driving on 4 lane highway cloverleafs.
BS and D equate their ability to keep relatively calm due to yoga. A got it from osmosis. (Power in numbers.)
So what if you have nothing to talk about besides your children or kale?
So what if your outfit isn’t quite right?
So what if your dinner isn’t up to snuff?
So what if your flight gets cancelled and you are stuck at the Philadelphia airport?
Things happen and then then they are over.
Life is funny, I mean really funny.
When you take a moment to analyze impatience, insults, or irritation, you can always find humor.
Would you rather laugh or cry?
Here we are, but not forever.
Make the most of every moment.
Namaste- our Southern relatives are AOK!
Alexandra Langstaff 