She Called Early in the Morning

...wanting to know what I was up to today. Nothing whatsoever if you'd like to spend time with me, bud.

I had the day off because it was Pioneer Day. And she's hoping that it's the case, that I'm available to be with her.

Wondering if maybe we could hang out if I don't have anything else going on. Even if I did, I would drop it all to spend time with you, my dear daughter who is appropriately immersed in her life.

And so, she showered, I showered, she hopped on Trax, I met her train, we went to lunch at one of our favorite neighborhood joints, and we talked. About her new roommates, how she wanted to be the one to help her little sisters in their need, how she was sad that being a roommate with Nicole was cut-off prematurely, with no closure, no good-bye, so sorry she hadn't acknowledged that it had ended. And of course, Nicole had to go, had to help the little sisters; and of course, Beccah understands that, but their year together is over and she wasn't ready and even though it was important for her to stay behind and close up the apartment and settle up with their lease which will end at the end of the month and sign the new one with her new roommates and move and set up her new place she still wishes it could have been her to go and help.

And afterwards we went to my palace of a grocery store because amazingly, she hadn't been yet, and I gave her the tour and bought her some make-up and she helped me shop, and we ended the field trip with peach gelato yum.

And then she got on my computer and read her e-mails showing me Western Spaghetti and her new cool blog called Keyhole Photo.  And then she went into the TV room and watched Chowder with Mark and I heard them laughing because that is what she brings to our house, laughter.

And once again, just like that, my house felt lived in.

Lived in.

And as I do with a nearly full house and a day off, I cooked:

Grilled Lemon Chicken with Moroccan Couscous Salad (without the grilled lemon chicken--thanks David and Carol for pointing me towards the recipe!):

and Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce (I browned the lamb rather than baking or grilling it):

And then she left to spend time with her boyfriend having gotten her fill of connection to mom and to step-dad and to home and to home cooking and though I wished she could have stayed, I am grateful for the time we had to connect, the time she offered me in her busy life of discovering who she is as an independent young woman.

So grateful that she called, early in the morning.

Comments

[Kim Hughes]

your post absolutely warms my heart Cath.
I love the way you write :)

[rae]

how sweet!
I hope that my little girl will some day do the same ;)
{I just blogged about gyros today too!!}

[Beccah]

Love you mom! It was indeedy a great day! Just like old times...

[Melissa]

You are such a sweet mom---I can totally understand the love you have for her and your other daugter as you treat them as my mom treats me...what a sweet post.
melis

[Alice]

I've missed all your wonderful insights about life while I was away...I really think you should write a book someday - you have such a gift for making people feel like they are right there with you.