LEMON-AIDE

Yesterday, my sixteen year old daughter didn’t have to work after school.  Usually I am not the first one on her list to hang out with on a free afternoon or evening, but yesterday, to my surprise, she invited ME to share her time.  Those of you with teenagers, or who have raised teenagers, know this is a gift.

The two of us love to shop, in fact we are a dangerous shopping duo, (even more so in this economic slump.)  Our first stop was ”Old Navy”.  Since she started working, I love shopping with her even more, because she has her own money to spend, and her own “Can I afford it?”, decisions to make.  On a selfish note, this leaves a bit of spare cash for me to now and then treat myself to a wardrobe addition.  After more than twenty years of stretching the budget to clothe three kids, while my hubby and I made do with a pair of jeans until they wore to threads, this is so much fun!

After I purchased a new pair of jeans and she bought herself a sweatshirt, we went to eat at the Olive Garden.  We got there early before the crowds and slid into a cozy quiet booth.  We are a compatible eating out pair as we both have our own “tummy” challenges and feel normal in each other’s company as we scan the menu, over and over, looking for food our bod’s can tolerate. 

We decided on soup and salad, which come with the Olive Garden’s soft warm breadsticks.  I can’t eat salad (can’t tolerate fiber), she couldn’t eat the soup (too spicey), but we both could eat the breadsticks…and we went through quite a few.  The cost of the meal was very little, but I would have paid the balance of our checking account and went hungry until payday for the conversation we shared, for the time in her calm, comfortable presence, and just to look across the table at her beautiful face and thoughtful hazel eyes.

When we returned home we put on our pajamas and turned on the fireplace (nothing like gas fireplaces that you turn on with a switch).  She did her homework and I read email.  Soon we started talking again.  I learned much about what she thinks, feels, worries and cares about.  We talked for a couple hours before we realized how late it was and remembered that it was a school night. We ended the evening with a hug.

These words I am writing are the wrapping paper around yesterday’s memories; purple and gold shiney paper with gold and silver glossy ribbon tied around it and a big gold bow on top.  I will place it on my favorite memory shelf to take out whenever I need reminding of the best and most important moments of my life.

Today she will come home after school or go to a coffee shop with a friend.  If she hangs out at home there’s a good chance her boyfriend will be here too.  She might remember to say “hello mom”.  They will make a snack in the kitchen and eat it together in the family room while they talk and giggle.  Soon after I will hear the sounds of their guitars.  When the music quiets, I will hear their footsteps running down the stairs, a “Bye Mom”, and then quiet.  She will drive her boyfriend home,  go to work and spend the evening making pizzas.  When she comes home she will eat the dinner we kept warm for her, spend the evening in her room doing homework, texting her friends, and just being a teenager.

And I, will look up at the gift she gave me yesterday, beautifully wrapped on my memory shelf and smile.