Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles

Boy, am I living it up here in Abilene.  I'm doing absolutely NOTHING for a change but eating and sleeping and blogging and reading.  Very little watching TV.  Oh . . . and listening to my mom tell stories about her life and growing up on the farm without electricity or central heat or air conditioning, etc.  Life was hard. 

And look at things today! 

Well, yesterday we took full advantage of things today and went to Starbucks.  That was our great foray into the world so far this week.  What fun.  It was after my afternoon nap (can you believe I'm actually napping here in Abilene most afternoons?!) and I needed some caffeine.  Plus, iced coffee satisfies my sweet tooth because I add milk and sweetener to it.

My mom had never been to Starbucks before and wasn't even sure where it was.  Me and my sister usually go to Starbucks together when I come to Abilene for coffee most afternoons, me always drinking iced coffee, which is all I ever get at Starbucks.

Anyway, Mom had to get her Abilene map and her phone book out so she could check it all out.  A girl can't be too careful when going someplace new and different, you know.  She wanted to be sure we headed the right direction, although I assured her I would drive and could find my way across Abilene with her help.

Next Mom had to go change clothes.  She wasn't properly dressed to go out. 

A change of clothes later with pearls added to finish off the ensemble, she emerged from her room, purse in hand.  I had visions of "Driving Miss Daisy" as I thought about us heading out to Starbucks in the afternoon sun.  Mom was ready to go.

We arrived in good time, me driving, Mom navigating, and parked in a handicapped spot.  We went inside as she a bit anxiously looked around to try to behold all there was to behold.  She only drinks one small cup of coffee each morning and that's it.  She asked me if they had anything other than coffee.  I said yes, they had several cold sweet drinks and several teas.  Her eyes landed on the pastries before I could get to that menu item.

She spotted the "classic" coffee cake.  "We" decided we needed not only a venti iced coffee, but also a piece of coffee cake with two spoons to take to our table.  She passed on any coffee because it wasn't breakfast time and besides she is "old-fashioned," she said, and just likes "plain" coffee.  The girl behind the counter didn't argue, but instead offered to bring us the cake to a table, so I gathered my coffee and started doctoring it up while Mom perused the mugs and gift items in the shelves on the end wall.

We found a table for four, set our purses down on the extra chairs, got our cake and it was good.  So was the iced coffee and the conversation.  The Starbucks trip was a success.

Not that I expect my mom to ever go back there, again, you understand.  She just went as part of her mission to "entertain" me, her guest this week, who she's felt she has let down somehow with no exciting plans for us to engage in.

I feel totally differently about it all.  I feel honored to be a guest in the presence of her company, entertainment or not.  She didn't even have to go to Starbucks with me, but I'm glad she did.  I just wanted to get out of the house a bit since I've pretty much just holed up here all week long after the stresses and strains for the past year in moving twice and building our house and all.  This quiet week has been great!

So, that's the news from rainy Abilene this morning and the big excitement for the week.  Me and Grandma went to Starbucks.  And a fun adventure it was, indeed.  Dee

[Note:  Ben Overby commented while ago saying I should interview my mom using my interview questions I asked a good many of your guys over the past few months.  Well, I did interview her using five of the questions many months ago and posted her funny, down-to-earth responses as 'View From the "80s" for 1/6/06'.  Here it is again for y'all to enjoy - and you will!  Let me know what you think.  Dee]

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