Yesterday was my mom’s birthday. This is the first time in 5 years that I’ve actually been in town on her birthday. Yes, I’m a terrible, terrible daughter. Ever since I retired in 2010, we’ve spent pretty much the entire month of November and half of December in Phoenix. Fortunately, she’s not the kind of person who lays a big guilt trip on me for not being around on her birthday. Or Christmas.
But this year I’m here and so I took her out for lunch. Because I’m just that generous. I also gave her an incredibly insulting card. So insulting that pretty much any other person I know would never speak to me after reading it. It made her laugh, which I knew it would, because she’s my mom. I didn’t buy her flowers, as I knew she would get a nice bouquet from my brother. I did send her a new pair of winter boots. I’m practical like that. And so is she.
Speaking of gifts, I am totally on track to finish my Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving. I set that as a goal every year. I rarely manage to actually achieve it, but I think this just might be the year. I hate looking for things in a panic. I hate even shopping retail in December. The grocery store is fine, but I don’t want to get anywhere near a general retailer. I’d rather stay home and shop from the comfort of my laptop, which is how most of my Christmas gifts are purchased. But I do need to venture out tomorrow to pick up one item in the real world. Wish me luck.