A Toast to Me!

I was 3 years old when my parents bought this house. Some may claim that I was too young, but I swear I remember the day my parents brought my older brother and I to the house the first time.  There was a rainbow outside and when an adult (could have been mom, dad, abuela, abuelo?) took my brother and I by the hand and we crossed the street, I saw the rainbow frame our house.  I remember that day and it was a perfect day.

For the next 6 years my brother and I shared a room.  I’m not sure why, there are plenty of bedrooms for everyone, but we were fairly inseparable, so I guess sharing a room made sense.  When I was 9, I decided that I wanted my own room — this room.  My mom made me promise that if she bought me my own bedroom set, I could not call for her to come to the room in the middle of the night.  Deal.

We cleaned out what was to be my room and my Dad gave it a fresh coat of paint.  My furniture arrived and my bedroom was made up.  That night was the night that I would be sleeping alone — without my brother and without my mom.  When it came time for bed, I went to MY room and shut the door.  My mom came in and told me that since it still smelled like paint, it would be best if I slept with the door open.  OK I did, but the next night, I shut the door again.  I’ve slept with the door closed ever since.

Today I drove back home to hang with my parents for a couple of days.  There is no question as to where I’d sleep as I’ve always kept my room here… afterall, it’s MY room, my parents gave it to me. The house can be theirs, the room is mine.   This room has been with me my entire life.   I always know that it’s here for me when I need it, or when I don’t.  It’s seen me laugh, cry, yell, dance, sleep, stress, veg-out.  It’s where I feel better when I’m not feeling well and where I can relax after any event.  It’s made me feel safe when I’ve been scared and surrounds me with familiarity when I’m lost.  It’s a place where I am welcome, whether it’s for a day, a night, a week or years.   It has been my private sanctuary since I was 9 years old and it is now what it was then –the safest place on earth for me.

Reflections Dad, family, mom

My mom has been battling with her teeth lately and being the good pains in the tushes that we are, we have asked her to please go see a dentist! So for the last few weeks, she’s been researching dentists. She’s even gone to see a few of them to obtain estimates. Needless to say, she wasn’t happy with any of them. But, at the recommendation of a friend, she finally settled on one.

I know how difficult it is to get in on a Saturday, but apparently my mother managed to score a Sunday morning appointment. We wake up early, print out the directions and head out to his office — about a 35 minute drive. There are dentist offices everywhere, and we notice a man in a white coat waiting outside one of the offices; this must be the place!

After the introductions, my mother diligently explains everything that the other dentists have said and done in effort to remedy her situation. She pulls out her file and shows him the X-Rays. I’m in awe. When did my mom learn so much about teeth? The dentist explains that they’ll be going into the office to get started. I decide to take Corky on a quick walk.

When we come back, we try every door. They’re locked. Hmmmm… where could they have gone? I hear the door of a motor home open behind me and I hear a man say — did you want to come in and sit down? As I slowly begin to turn around, I say — “oh no, we’re fine. Thank you.” Wait, is that the dentist? In a motor home? Is my mom in there? She is! What? OK, I think my mom has flipped her lid. She’s been fighting us on having her teeth pulled for months now. She’s interviewed at least 3 dentists — IN ACTUAL OFFICES — and she decides to have the procedure done in a motor home? Seriously?

About half hour later, my mom walks out, gauze in mouth with the dentist following. She gets into the car and we leave. I say nothing – UNTIL we turn the corner that is! “Mom, A MOTOR HOME?” “Really?” She starts to laugh. She says that it’s not what she expected either, but that apparently he’s got the whole set up in there — complete with lights and a dentist chair — oh and the air conditioning set to a very comfortable level. Well that’s nice I tell her… but um, a motor home? What, the other dentists with actual buildings around their dentist chairs weren’t good enough?

Needless to say we laughed the entire drive home. She said that once her gums heal, she’ll need to see him again to get her new teeth fitted. Maybe next time he could just drive his office to us?

Points, Random, Red, White family, mom