it’s morning and i’m pouring my yogurt and granola while mom gets herself ready to go on her 4 mile round trip walk to starbucks where she has a latte and does sudoku. she puts on her sunglasses, flips the switch on her sansa mp3 player, and gives me the thumbs up. i notice something a little strange about the picture, though.
me: mom, is that soda in your water bottle?
mom, playfully defensive: it’s my diet pop!
pointing at me: YOU!*
she grabbed it with both hands and protected it with her body as she walked past me out the door.
* this is the family shortcut for “Abasta!” or “you, stop saying what you’re saying even if it is true.”