Pulling Strings

 

They streamed in this weekend–from “down below,” “up above,” and just a “hop-skip.”

AKA from “down state,” from “the U.P.,” and from home–just a short drive.

Three grandchildren, one spouse, one boyfriend, three great-grandchildren, a niece and her family.

It was a sun-shining, picture-taking, memory-tucking time.

Last night, after everyone had gone and Mom had napped long, my sister went out for pizza and “real” Coke.

She didn’t know I’d bought one of those individual bottles of zinfandel last week when I splurged on the “shrimpfest.”

So while she was gone, we got Mom up and wheeled her down to the dining room.

I found a fancy goblet for the pink wine and poured a little.

She swirled and sniffed and tasted. “Why is this called white?”

“I have no idea, but I’ll be in trouble if you get tipsy before Sissy gets back.”

She spent the waiting time sipping and doing finger-to-nose.

My sister doesn’t mess around when it comes to pizza.

She brought back two large mixed ones–ham and pineapple, veggie supreme, pepperoni, and a meat-lovers along with breadsticks and dipping sauce.

We invited the nurse and aide to come eat with us and my dad while we listened to golden oldies.

We talked about horses and chickens and goats until they had to get back to work.

We laughed.

A lot.

My dad went out to the lobby to work on the Anne Geddes jigsaw puzzle.

(I finished it this morning. It was a brand-new puzzle. How could it already be missing a piece?)

My sister and I acted out instruments to–I think Mack the Knife, but I’m not sure.

Mom laughed at us.

We talked about taking the Sandy and Candy Show on the road.

Candy asked if we could go to the Bahamas.

Manager Mom said yes.

I asked about San Diego because I knew Candy loved it there.

Manager Mom said yes.

Then I asked about Las Vegas because I knew Mom like it there.

And Candy said there should be a lot of venues we could “play” there.

But Manager Mom said they’d all be booked.

“But you’re our manager. You need to pull the strings.”

Manager Mom thought about that for a moment before she answered. “Whenever I pull a string, a nurse comes.”

We howled.

“Oh, Mom! You better pull a string now because I think I just wet my pants!”

 

On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter,
sing yourselves into his presence.

Psalm 100:1-2 (Message)