Oh dear God, I'm alone.
It's something of a minor miracle when staying here with the in-laws. I realize that it's only been a week, and I'm already getting that antsy, claustrophobic thing I get when I've been with people constantly for a long period of time. I know that it's the only child in me - sometimes I just have to be...alone.
Right now, Jude, Pop and Mommy are watching another movie from Pop's classic movie collection - Airport - 1970, Burt Lancaster. I'm hoping this doesn't cause some terrible fear-of-flying reaction in the kid, but I'm just so happy to be able to sneak away to our bedroom upstairs by myself, that I truly don't care.
Aunt Grace, who is also something of a loner, has also begged off the movie watching, and is holed up watching her CNBC. She will no doubt head back to her apartment in NYC in a couple of days. I'm surprised she's lasted this long, as she and Mommy are fighting like cats and dogs. Those two sisters love each other dearly, and are SO devoted, but they really are like oil and water. They bicker and argue over the silliest things. Just crazy things that mean nothing to anybody, and don't even make sense. Something like this...
MOMMY
Oh, there she goes! She did it again.
AUNT GRACE
What thing? I didn't do anything!
MOMMY
See? She doesn't even know she does it!
AUNT GRACE
What have I done? I haven't done anything. You're inventing this in your head.
MOMMY
You don't even know you do it! And then you never admit it!
AUNT GRACE
Oh Mary, really! This is just like you! You do this ALL the time!
And so on and so forth. When they start in like this, Pop just runs upstairs and hides in his room until it blows over.
Anyway, I'm happy for a little time to myself, because our schedule for the next couple of weeks has filled up and right now it doesn't look like we have a single free day. Though I'm going to insist on at least one day on my own in the city, which will be an amazing treat!
Not that we're not having a great time. We are. Yesterday, we...
Damn...Mommy calling me. She does that, she stands at the bottom of the stairs and kind of shrieks my name at the top of her lungs. It sort of sends chills up my spine. Hold on...
...Okay, I'm back. She needed me to go in the basement and locate the box of ice cream sandwiches from the freezer. Which I did. So...crisis averted. Anyway...
Yesterday, Jude and I went with my s-i-l Niki and her daughter-in-law Melissa and her little boy Matthew, who is Jude's only cousin in the world to a beach out in The Hamptons. It was sort of Beach Friday East Coast Style. Except it was Saturday.
Jude had a BIG time using all his new found beach knowledge and body surfing skills on the Atlantic.
It was a crazy day in the water. Jude went in for about 30 minutes, and when he finally came out, he informed me, in that Little Professor way he sometimes has "I'm afraid they have a pretty serious rip current situation happening here." No sooner had these words tumbled out of his mouth, than a whistle blew, and a team of lifeguards went into action, pulling someone out of the rip current. They proceeded to have FIVE rescues in the one afternoon. It was crazy.
Interesting differences between East Coast/West Coach beaches -
- West Coast beaches tend to be pretty empty and relaxed, while the East Coast beaches are PACKED. Just a massive sea of scantily dressed humanity as far as the eye can see. Which is a pain, but can also be kind of fun because it's like one big partay.
- East Coast water is warmer, but the waves are bigger. Exactly the opposite of what you'd expect.
- East Coast beaches sell...so exciting...liquor. Yes, I got to purchase a tasty rum punch and take it on the beach with me. Well, I'm not exactly sure I was SUPPOSED to take it on the beach with me, but nobody messes with a tall, bathing suited middle-aged woman. Who is hiding the beverage under a towel.
And I LOVED that Jude and...
Damn. Mommy's screeching again. Sigh...maybe if I pretend...no, I'd better go. Hold on...
...Okay, I'm back. This time she wanted to know if I'd called Jimmy back, which I had, but when she got me, she wanted to know if I wanted her to fold my clean clothes which were in the dryer, which was really a kind of passive aggressive way of suggesting that I come and get the clothes out of the dryer and fold them. Which I did. So anyway...
I LOVED that Jude and his little cousin Matthew got to spend the day together! Matthew is 3, and finally to an age when they can kind of hang out and play together. They were super sweet...
They are each others only cousins, and I'm so glad they have each other.
Tomorrow night I think we're going to go on a fishing boat with our friends Ray and Jenny. Should be very cool, and...
Damn. Mommy calling again. I should just give up and go down before she decides she needs to hobble all the way up the stairs to get me - her knees are SO bad. Her voice, however is VERY strong. Jimmy still cringes every time I imitate Mommy calling his name up the stairs when he was a kid - "Jiiiiiiiiiimmyyyyyy!" Oh, there she goes again. Okay, I'm off.
So much for alone time.
We took one trip with Nick's family and after that decided that six adults should never live in the same space. And that we are never traveling with his parents again. I feel for you. Alone time can not be overrated.
Posted by: VandyJ | 08/12/2013 at 07:17 AM
Mommy seems to be recovering from her fall - I'm glad.
I like to be alone, too. When Beloved goes out of town on business, I often sit in the living room, television off, and listen to ...nothing. It's wonderful.
Posted by: Jan's Sushi Bar | 08/12/2013 at 07:31 AM
"She does that, she stands at the bottom of the stairs and kind of shrieks my name at the top of her lungs. It sort of sends chills up my spine." I think that's what mothers DO when they get old. Be advised that Jude will be writing the same thing in his blog about YOU in 20 years. I miss you. We need to start planning for the reunion sometime this fall.
Posted by: W! | 08/12/2013 at 08:14 AM
This is your first visit to the in laws since I have been reading your blog. Gene and I have been laughing and giggling on and off over the last week as I read 'back issues' of your adventures in Long Island. You are an angel for staying 3 weeks. Our son will have us for almost 2 weeks. I am sure it is a mixed blessing. He does live in a 3 level condo. May have to try the Mommy yell a few times!
Posted by: Janice Adcock | 08/12/2013 at 10:05 PM