Wednesday, February 04, 2004
becoming maternal
My daughter looks beautiful when she first wakes up. She looks beautiful all the time, but I had forgotten how precious Juli's just-woke-up face is. It came back to me this morning as I lay on her bed, watching her struggle toward full consciousness. Deeply hung over, with sleep-mussed hair and mascara-smeared eyes, she still looked like an angel to me. I snuggled cozily under a fleecy leopard-print throw, talking quietly with her about our plans for the day. My heart was glowing with happiness at sharing such a sweetly close moment with my now-grown daughter.
Juli went to see B.B. King at 4th & B last night, and had -- as she usually does -- called me mid-concert to let me hear a song she wanted to share. She called again much later, quite drunk, saying she needed my help because she couldn't stop laughing. I have no idea what she expected me to do from a distance of 30 miles. I was just grateful she wasn't driving.
I rode up to Juli's house this morning with Bret, who dropped me off on his way to work. I took our laundry with me to do while visiting with Juli, and we also planned to go to the Social Security office. I hadn't yet changed my last name with either Social Security or the DMV. It took us two trips -- the first time, the line was literally out the door! -- but I am now officially Mrs. Bret on Social Security's records! I was under the impression that I'd have to wait until I actually had my new Social Security card in hand before I could have the DMV issue me a new license, but the SSA clerk told me the DMV would accept my printed receipt as proof. Unfortunately, Juli wasn't feeling well enough for another bout of standing in line, so we had to forego the DMV trip. My hair wasn't photoworthy today, anyway. :>) But I will be truly, truly thrilled when I see my beloved new last name on my driver's license.
I love spending the day with my precious daughter. Now that she is grown and living in another town, I treasure every opportunity I get to share time with Juli. She is definitely her own person, but there are still ways in which we are so alike. As we drove around looking at houses for rent, I kept thinking how Juli's tastes are so much like mine. She would hate living out in the country just as much as me -- we both prefer cozy tract neighborhoods. Much of the music she played was of the same type I listen to at home. And when she mentioned Jilly's for lunch, my taste buds leaped to attention.
And yet, I think it's our differences that make our visits so much fun. We always do a bit of good-natured bickering off and on, usually related to something I can't remember. My increasingly-poor memory exasperates Juli no end. She seems to think I CHOOSE to forget things, just to annoy her. So naturally, I was amused yesterday to hear from Juli's roomie, Keri, that Juli herself is becoming forgetful. Since Juli is only 23, I feel this HAS to be karma. She certainly doesn't have the excuse of middle-age! It's that cardinal rule of karma: What goes around, comes around.
I can't wait to see what sort of kids karma will deliver to Juli. Since she has such a wild streak, I figure they'll be a bunch of narrow-minded little prudes who will make their mom's life a living hell. Nothing else would be fair.
Juli went to see B.B. King at 4th & B last night, and had -- as she usually does -- called me mid-concert to let me hear a song she wanted to share. She called again much later, quite drunk, saying she needed my help because she couldn't stop laughing. I have no idea what she expected me to do from a distance of 30 miles. I was just grateful she wasn't driving.
I rode up to Juli's house this morning with Bret, who dropped me off on his way to work. I took our laundry with me to do while visiting with Juli, and we also planned to go to the Social Security office. I hadn't yet changed my last name with either Social Security or the DMV. It took us two trips -- the first time, the line was literally out the door! -- but I am now officially Mrs. Bret on Social Security's records! I was under the impression that I'd have to wait until I actually had my new Social Security card in hand before I could have the DMV issue me a new license, but the SSA clerk told me the DMV would accept my printed receipt as proof. Unfortunately, Juli wasn't feeling well enough for another bout of standing in line, so we had to forego the DMV trip. My hair wasn't photoworthy today, anyway. :>) But I will be truly, truly thrilled when I see my beloved new last name on my driver's license.
I love spending the day with my precious daughter. Now that she is grown and living in another town, I treasure every opportunity I get to share time with Juli. She is definitely her own person, but there are still ways in which we are so alike. As we drove around looking at houses for rent, I kept thinking how Juli's tastes are so much like mine. She would hate living out in the country just as much as me -- we both prefer cozy tract neighborhoods. Much of the music she played was of the same type I listen to at home. And when she mentioned Jilly's for lunch, my taste buds leaped to attention.
And yet, I think it's our differences that make our visits so much fun. We always do a bit of good-natured bickering off and on, usually related to something I can't remember. My increasingly-poor memory exasperates Juli no end. She seems to think I CHOOSE to forget things, just to annoy her. So naturally, I was amused yesterday to hear from Juli's roomie, Keri, that Juli herself is becoming forgetful. Since Juli is only 23, I feel this HAS to be karma. She certainly doesn't have the excuse of middle-age! It's that cardinal rule of karma: What goes around, comes around.
I can't wait to see what sort of kids karma will deliver to Juli. Since she has such a wild streak, I figure they'll be a bunch of narrow-minded little prudes who will make their mom's life a living hell. Nothing else would be fair.
