Not wanting to oversleep for Maggie’s big day, I woke up intermittently;
checking the time to make sure it wasn’t too late. This has always been a big fear of mine,
being too late, though I can’t recollect it actually happening. Yet.
There was a lot to do…bake the pies.
Ok, well, really just bake the pies, but I also managed to clean the bathroom
somewhat. I have forgotten how to clean. I think a large part of that is being on my
own and not “having to keep the house clean” for a husband – not that it was
ever a requirement from L, but as a female, we are raised with that position being
whispered into our souls…”take care of the
house and the children.” I gave up
that role. I made sure the girls were up
by 10 because we were leaving in an hour to meet at the park ‘n ride to collect
the rest of the crew.
We headed to the roller-skating rink. L was ahead of us since we had to wait for a
couple of girls.
It was very interesting once everyone was
there: the 7th graders
skated..the 8th graders wanted to talk with each other and
socialize. It is so cool to watch the interesting
developmental aspects of these girls by just a grade. Ethan had his friend Michael there. Poor guy.
I think I freak him out. Ethan
was out skating so I’d talk to Michael and one point he flat out got up and
moved away from me and sat by the girls.
I guess I need to learn boundaries with this kid. The thing is – if he jokes around, I’m going
to joke back. I think everyone had
fun. At two we headed over to the mall
and parked. One of the coolest things
ever was trudging through JC Penney with a cooler. The looks the girls got from some of the people! The rad thing is that I was the one who came
up with this, but since I was the grown-up, I got to tell them to do it. I bought the girl’s a corn dog and drinks
(which cost more than the corn dog). When
it was time for pie-singing and candles, I wanted to check with someone at the mall
first. Heaven forbid we have security
surrounding us with flashlights or walkie-talkie. I found a sweet grandmother who was cleaning
tables and she said to go for it – she didn’t think there was anything wrong
with it, so I put the long sparkler candles in and we started singing as the candles
would keep leaning. There we were in the
food court at Sunrise Mall, with a few diners joining in..applause after, and
one lady came over to tell me how cool that was. Super awesome. Next time I’d want shorter candles that can
hole their own for a few minutes.
Parents came to pick up girls at 3:30-4:00 and L took the rest
home. That meant I would be spending
some time at the mall while Maggie and her friend walked around. I found a comfy chair and did some people watching. I overheard convo between a security guard
telling a store clerk about a “dicey situation” with a dreadlocked dude. I shared a smile with the happiest baby face
I have seen in some time. I looked at so
many people and saw what our food is doing to us – because really. Look back in pictures 30-40 years ago: people are slim, because they prepared/cooked
their own food and I’m sure what we put in the food wasn’t quite as bad. It’s a
shady thing in this country – the FDA admits on its own, there is no way to
check the safety of much what is put into foods. Well, shoot – just look at us. A top 3 reason of why I want to get the hell
out of this country. 
The headed back just as my stomach was beginning to lose
patience with me. Jake would be proud, I
had no desire to eat any of the mall food and had dined on, what else, spinach
and eggs for breakfast around 8:30. It
was close to 5 and, out of mutual agreement, Chenoa and I decided we had to
introduce Maggie to KP Marketplace. We
headed to the beautifully culturally mixed market – with so many people of
different ethnicities and backgrounds. I
like this place because it’s so “multi-culti” as Tanti used to say
Last but not least, we headed to the drive in to watch The Scorch
Trials. We found out little spot in the back
and once the movie started, I traded spots with the girls and let them sit up
front. What a freaky feeling: it won’t be too long until this is actually
happening. Yikes. I chatted with my friend Jenni- then I laid
down for a bit since I was not too interested
in this movie. I decided to go grab a small
popcorn in the snack bar area and as I was walking back with the movies
playing on the screens, then seeing a swing-set, I felt like I was on the movie set
of "Grease" and wanted to start singing “Sandy.”
Folks pulled up next to use about half way into the movie and were out
talking on their cellphone very loudly and at one point I got out and asked
them if they could please keep it down – that we were trying to finish the movie. I think I scared them a little (although I could
have easily been jumped by them). I’m
just so damn tired of the inconsiderate people.
Headed back and dropped off sweet C before bringing Mags back home. Noticed the dogs were excited about a mouse,
so it seems more steel wool is on the agenda.
Pictures: Maggie's 12th birthday celebration: First at Rollerland; Sunrise mall; The drive in. This makes twice for me and both times with my girl. :)
