We celebrated Mother’s Weekend instead.

It all started innocently enough. My husband and I were enjoying our morning tea on the back deck when I asked him what he had planned for me on Mother’s Day. He sat stone quiet as his face turned ghost white. Sensing that he hadn’t planned anything, I sat quietly, enjoying every minute of his dilemma and wondering how he was going to escape his self-created problem due to his lack of planning.

I didn’t move a muscle; almost holding my breathe, waiting for his response.

After a few minutes, he looked at me and said, ” Well, it’s your day, what would you like to do that day?”

He did it again. He’s really good at turning things around back to me but I’m still not used to this maneuver. I told him that I hadn’t thought about it but would give it some thought then get back to him.

A few minutes later our son Don joined us on the back deck for his morning coffee. Saturday mornings are among my favorite moments when the three of us have time to get together and talk about everything and nothing. Throughout the week each one of us goes our different ways so Saturday mornings are our only time to be together as a family.

By this time I had had a few minutes to think about what I would like. Next time the subject came up I had an answer. It didn’t take long for the question to come up. It’s my day, I wasn’t going to let the boys get away with anything.

I would like for Bob to feed the horses both meals on Saturday and Sunday. For Don, I would like him to clean the kitty litter boxes, (we have three). The boys were stunned.

Guess my request came as a surprise. But with them doing those chores, I would have time to read.

For the past ten days, I had been studying nothing but text books on Apis Mellifera (Honey Bees); I was taking the first exam in a series of three exams leading to becoming a Master Beekeeper. I passed; that exam was behind me. It’s been too long since I’ve read so many text books; talk about dry. By now I was desperate to read something with a plot.

I had a long over due date with Tess Garritsen and her Silent Girl. Because of the boy’s gift of time, I read in the living room, on the back deck, in the dining room, on the front deck, and in the office — all day Saturday.

On Sunday the first thing I saw when I entered the living room were two bouquets of flowers that Don had put there the night before; one for Essie and one for me. Under the flowers was a gift card to Applebee’s. How sweet. Employed children are wonderful, aren’t they.

After getting my morning tea, I sat next to the flowers and read, then I read in the dining room, on the front deck, and for a short period of time on the back deck.

Sunday afternoon, we picked up an order from Applebee’s and took it to Essie’s for an early dinner. Essie is Bob’s 97 year old mother who is home bound so we spend as much time with her as we can. Because we ordered off the menu, Bob got his steak, Essie got her spinach salad and I got my Oriental Chicken Salad. I’m sure Applebee’s has other fine items on their menu but I’ve only eaten their Oriental Salad — it’s wonderful.

On the say home, Bob said, “This turned out to be a fine weekend. I got a steak out of the deal.”

With this tidbit of news, maybe I can pull-off having Mother’s Weekend again next year. I’ll let you know. As long as Bob can get his steak, maybe, just maybe we can do this again, and again, and again. New traditions have to start somewhere. Might as well be at my house.