So, my precious mother left yesterday afternoon and we miss her already. It really was one of the best visits we've had in a long long while. The shopping didn't hurt either. Today we try to resume some semblance of normal. It's especially challenging this time considering how much furniture and stuff my parents managed to displace this trip out here. In preparation for their newest attempt to retire they brought me a bunch of stuff that they don't have room for at the farm, where, ostensibly, they are going to put themselves out to pasture for the rest of their days. Which, for a couple of spark plugs like those two, I'll believe when I see. I have a feeling their version of 'retirement' may be vastly different than mine. Mine includes a really cute cabana boy name Jorge who will clean the pool at my villa in Spain and bring me icy glasses of Pinot Grigio at noon, because I plan to put my liver thru it's paces by being a complete lush. I'll be OLD and wrinkly, so really who's going to care? There is a distinct probability that Monica and Huge's retirement will be far more productive than my life is right now. And you know, I'm okay with that.
So, they brought their extra goodies to us. A spiffy new (and well functioning, thank you) bbq (they have a built in gas one at the farm), an upright freeze (they have TWO of those!), a gimoungous armoir thing Ikea that gives us masses of much needed storage. AND a bed! I know, I can hear you say SHUT UP from here!
And there's one thing that Monica left behind when she left, as if all that other stuff wasn't enough. She left evidence of her presence here. Evidence I'm loathe to wash away.

Miss you, mama.