#10 in my "A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words Or Less" series. (For a description of how this series works, see Installment #1.)
For Mom's birthday three years ago, my sibs and I decided to treat her to some of her favorite things. And Mom has definite opinions about what constitutes her favorite things. And Mom is very loyal to her favorite things.
Among these favorite things are:
(1) Video Station (DVD rentals, great recommendations and fun conversation),
(2) The Rio (Great margaritas, passable food and fun--probably due to great margaritas),
(3) Ozo (Great coffee, nice baristas and the place she always meets up with her pal, Anita)
(4) Big-screen Movies (because sometimes you just can't wait for the DVD release)
With my sibs all living out of state, I volunteered to drive around and get gift cards for Mom from all of us. At each stop, I asked the folks working there to also wish my mom a happy birthday, the photos from which would be made into a giant card.
Over the years I've learned that Mom isn't big on surprises. (Case in point: even when traveling, she likes to know in advance exactly what size bed she'll find in her hotel room. Queens only. No doubles. No kings. I'm not kidding.)
But I've learned that some surprises are okay, such as, say, being serenaded. So I rewrote the lyrics to "My Favorite Things" for the waitstaff at The Rio to sing to Mom when Clare and I took her there to celebrate on the big day. And sing they did! (Based on their performance, I suspect some of them may've dipped into their renowned margos beforehand.)
If you haven't figured it out by now, we are not a normal family.
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| The Video Station: Mom's Home Away From Home |
Among these favorite things are:
(1) Video Station (DVD rentals, great recommendations and fun conversation),
(2) The Rio (Great margaritas, passable food and fun--probably due to great margaritas),
(3) Ozo (Great coffee, nice baristas and the place she always meets up with her pal, Anita)
(4) Big-screen Movies (because sometimes you just can't wait for the DVD release)
With my sibs all living out of state, I volunteered to drive around and get gift cards for Mom from all of us. At each stop, I asked the folks working there to also wish my mom a happy birthday, the photos from which would be made into a giant card.Over the years I've learned that Mom isn't big on surprises. (Case in point: even when traveling, she likes to know in advance exactly what size bed she'll find in her hotel room. Queens only. No doubles. No kings. I'm not kidding.)
But I've learned that some surprises are okay, such as, say, being serenaded. So I rewrote the lyrics to "My Favorite Things" for the waitstaff at The Rio to sing to Mom when Clare and I took her there to celebrate on the big day. And sing they did! (Based on their performance, I suspect some of them may've dipped into their renowned margos beforehand.)
“My Favorite Things”
The Loretta Version
(Original Score from The
Sound of Muzak)
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| "Happy Birthday, Loretta!" (Now can we get back to work?) |
Lattes at
Ozo with my pal, Anita
The Rio
with Clare and a cold margarita
That
stack of more napkins that Blake always brings
These are
a few of my favorite things!
DVDs and
wine with the local Larsen Clan
Dinner
and the big screen with my good bud-dy, Nan
The
praises of movies that Bruce often sings
These are
a few of my favorite things!
When the
news bites...
When it's
too hot...
When I'm
feeling sad...
I simply
cash in on the gift cards I got
And then
I don't feeeeeeel...so bad!
When we got home, we gave Mom another gift (below) with a card that read: Today's your birthday and we should do special birthday things like eat pie and swear. And so we did...
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| Nothing says "Happy Birthday" like pie and swearing. |
If you haven't figured it out by now, we are not a normal family.
Ha ha ha, what fun to swear like that on your birthday. Maybe I'll do it on my 81st.
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