Next Stop: Negative Town

I can rationalize that my mom is 72 years old and a widow. I can understand that her life hasn't been easy. These rationalizations, however, are little help when I'm stuck in the car with her.
Suddenly I am fifteen years old and just wanting to be anywhere but here.

I've had lots of Mom time recently. We took her out to dinner with Kevin's family the other night then I picked her up for my niece's first high school choir concert and then I took her to an appointment which required 45 minutes in the car. In one week.

Let me digress one minute: my mom is a very nice person. You just have to have thick skin because she doesn't mince words. There is rarely a doubt as to how she's feeling.

Here's the best example from the doctor appointment adventure:

We were on our way home and my patience was waning. I am trying to think of anything to talk about.

"Oh, there's the casino that James girlfriend works at. We've eaten there. It's not bad."

Should be safe, yes? Mentioned her nephew-in-law, restaurant, time spent with Kevin.

"Oh, Dad and I went there before he went downhill."

ah f&ck.

"I found all kinds of gambling membership cards for the casinos after he died. He liked to gamble."

*awesome*

"One time...this was when I was pregnant with your brother ((fifty years ago - I'm not kidding)) your dad bought into a football pool and put both of our names on it. Turns out I won. He gave me $40. So I bought a winter coat. Do you think he ever let it go? No, he even told our friends "I never saw any of that money." Finally, I won money at pulltabs and gave it to him and said "We're even."

e.x.h.a.u.s.t.i.n.g.

"But we had good times too, he could be fun..."