So THIS is Christmas?

So about a week ago my mom guilted me into driving two hours to get her so she wouldn't have to spend Christmas alone. Why would she be spending it alone? If you've been reading awhile, or have know me for awhile, you'll remember that she chose to have herself BAKER ACTED, rather than move in the retirement village near my home. Two years later she bought a house down the street from my sister who lives two hours from me.

So anyhow, my sister, she got the hell out of Dodge for the holidays, leaving my mother alone.

So I drove over and got her yesterday so that she could spend the holidays with us. I fixed up a room for her, my husband went shopping for her so that the house would be stocked with food that she would eat, and I even granted my teens the night off with friends so that I could properly entertain my mother.

All she has done from the moment I picked her up yesterday is bitch.

Bitch.

Bitch.

Bitch.

And I swear to all that is true, she has not let up for a single moment. It's passive-aggressive bitching too, which makes it so much harder to deal with.

I have run myself into the ground trying to entertain her because when she sits, she's gets bored. But when we run, she gets tired, or frazzled, or hungry, or thirsty, etc...

And we have her for two more days.

God help me, if this is Christmas then next year I'm celebrating Ramadan.

On the UP side, it did make me think of my dearest not nearest friends who I KNOW would appreciate spending the day with me, because they love me unconditionally.

To you guys -- have a very very merry, crazy-mother-free Christmas.

I get to dump her back off at her house on Wednesday, but we're leaving Thursday for Jamaica, Mon. So I'm going to wish you an incredibly awesome New Year as well.

See you in '07... and believe me when I say...

Wish YOU were here.

Robin

p.s. Tim, miss you and Suz a bunch.