Tales from Dinner
It never fails that I have some choice item for a post but don't have the time and/or inclination to write about it right then and then the moment is lost.

While I was cleaning my desk off yesterday I found two scraps of paper with notes of stories from Xmas dinner. I've forgotten the details and don't think I can capture the original energy of the discussion but here's a short version.

Story #1
Carole invited Mom and Dad to her son Rob's Halloween party. For the three people reading this who don't know the backstory: my sister and parents, and a huge group of other relatives, live in No. California in a very small town. There are no places to go, as in bars, clubs, restaurants, but there are lots of private social gatherings and such activities are rarely confined to one generational group so it would make complete sense to invite Mom and Dad to Rob's party.

Last summer Mom and Dad rented costumes from a lady in Eureka, so they thought it would be fun to rent costumes and after a bit of wrangling, Dad ended up with a pimp costume. I can't remember if Mom was his Ho, but it sounds good so we'll go with it.

They arrive at the party to find it in full swing including DJ's, music, lights, more than a slight whiff of Otto's jacket and they were the oldest people there by at least 20 years. Carole wasn't even there.

They ended up having a good time.

My sister said she never thought she'd see the day when she was out around town and someone would shout at her, "Hey, your Dad makes a good pimp." She also said that every time she turns up at a party, people ask her if her parents are coming. Our Mom and Dad, the hip party people.

Story #2
This isn't so much a story as a discussion. Aileen was with us at Xmas dinner and Aileen and I are hardcore list people. We like to make lists, consult lists, train others who share our household how to contribute to the list, keep our lists handy and feel lost and insecure without our lists. Mom is not a hardcore list person.

The discussion was shopping with vs. without the list. Aileen and I felt the list was vital. Mom said she liked to go row by row and riff. That she could be more creative that way rather than going by the list. I think I liked the story because Mom used the words "riff" and "grocery shopping" in the same sentence. I doubt that has ever happened before.