Slice of Life: A Lunch Date

 On Tuesdays, Two Writing Teachers hosts the Slice of Life. Everyone is welcome to share writing and comment on others in this special community. 

  

As I turned right, a familiar SUV turned left and followed me. My friend's mom drove a car like that. A 4-digit license plate. An old Mercedes. How many could there be?

My friend's birthday was a few weeks ago, and I always think of her more around then. I'd texted her mom and suggested that we follow up on our promise from a year ago that we'd have coffee. Mrs. J. hadn't responded, but I knew she probably would. Our relationship is like that. We have a powerful tie, even without seeing each other for long periods of time. 

As I drove up Stratton Brook, I kept glancing in my rear view mirror. My certainty was growing, and I pulled over, letting her pass me. The posture was Mrs. J's. The age about right. My certainty was now 90% and growing. When she turned into Powder Forest, I was nearly positive. 

Would anyone wonder if I arrived back at my office five to ten minutes later than I'd said? Would anyone notice if I took a little detour into a neighborhood? On a whim, I followed her into the neighborhood, trying not to follow so closely she worried, but not so distantly that I'd lose her. I knew the name of her road, but not how to get there, and not the number. When she turned onto Bantry, any doubt was gone. 

Unfortunately, it was lawn service day in the neighborhood, so any chance I had of rolling down my window and having her hear me say hi was non-existent. Was I really going to follow her right then left then right then left to not say hello? I turned around at the end of her cul-de-sac, and I parked in front of her house, just as the garage was closing. All I could see was her sneakers and blue pants heading from the car to the door. 

"Linda!" I yelled. But the garage door kept closing. 

I was parked, and I thought about texting later and forgetting about giving her a quick hug. Instead, I walked up to the door. She opened it before I knocked. 

"It's Mel," I said. 

But she already knew that before I said my name, and she wrapped me in a hug. Even though I know how frail moms can feel, I was surprised at the boniness of her hug. 

"Sit down," she said about ten times. 

"I can't," I said about twenty times. "But let's make a date. A real one."

We have a date, and I think we'll keep it, even though it's a month away. I'm already looking forward to sharing memories, laughs, and tears. 

Slice of Life: A Picture Perfect Day for a Graduation

On Tuesdays, Two Writing Teachers hosts the Slice of Life. Everyone is welcome to share writing and comment on others in this special community. 

  

In 2018, I sponsored my entire family's trip to Michigan, including my mother, to attend our oldest daughter's college graduation. It seemed like the right thing to do, even though it was the end of April, and all three of her sisters had a lot going on in their own college and high school lives. We all sat in the UM Big House huddling in blankets as it snowed and the temperature hovered at about 32 degrees. This slice isn't about that weekend, but trust me. It was memorable for all the stories, and many of them involved being cold. 

I didn't fly sisters around for Daughter #2's graduation. Good thing. It was mid-May in Connecticut, and 102 degrees. We sat in the shadeless quad with hats and DIY fans. Daughter #3's college graduation featured sideways rain. The wind broke most of the umbrellas. Oh, and it was 2021, so there was an expectation to keep a distance from people. Our well-planned outside party was inside with lots of people in close quarters. Yep, another graduation full of memories, and many of them involved being wet. 

Cecily is our fourth daughter, and she graduated on Sunday. 

All week, the forecast was sketchy, except for Sunday. All week, the forecast was pretty perfect for Sunday. And it was. It was sunny and 70, maybe even 75 in the sun. We walked around campus, and we took pictures on the UConn letters. 

Then the crew hiked to the top of Horse Barn Hill overlooking the campus, and I happily took pictures of them along the way as I enjoyed the sun. 

I got a cute selfie with Cecily when they came back down. 

It was Mother's Day, and a picture perfect day for a graduation. And maybe the cold, heat, and rain made it even better! A great finale to our undergraduate graduations!