I called my mom last Sunday to tell her the news about G. She monopolized the conversation to the point where the boys came in the house before I’d had a chance to tell her. Since I didn’t want the boys to hear the news by overhearing me telling her I rang off.

I talked with my sister on Tuesday and told her. She was congratulatory and offered to help with event planning or driving down to get DS1 if we pick a weekend before he’s done with school. Not overly effusive but on the familiar side of polite.

My mom and sister work together at my mother’s tax service office. So they talk frequently. Some might say the situation is enmeshed, but I might be overstating it. (I’m not.) I specifically told sis that I had not been able to tell mom and that she was free to tell her when she spoke with her that evening.

By 2:30 this afternoon I still had not heard a peep from my mom. So I called her. I couldn’t connect with either her or my sister at any of the six different phone numbers I have for them all afternoon. I left casual, light sounding voicemails. “Hi! Just wondering how things are going with the bed delivery and wanted to touch base one more time before I left for Mexico. Hope things are going ok. please give me a call.”

Nothing.

At 8:30 pm I called my mom again. I had completely forgotten that they were attending a tax seminar today.

I did my best to not be passive-aggressive: “Have you talked with Sis?”

“Yes, I’ve talked with her. We were at the seminar together all day today. I understand you don’t have a date yet.”

“No we are checking the kids’ calendars before we decide on a date. I expected I would have heard from you. Or maybe you don’t approve?” I dared to challenge her.

“Oh sweetie. I don’t remember if she told me yesterday or today.” And then she launched into an explanation of the computer troubles they had at the office yesterday, how she can’t afford to buy new computers but might be able to upgrade the computers if that would fix it; and the trouble she’s having getting her new bed delivered and then today she has been up since 5:30 in the morning because of the dogs and then spent the whole day at the seminar today, and now, she’s in bed at 9:15 at night because she thinks she’s coming down with a cold.

Translation: me and my news are not important enough to her to make the gargantuan effort to call and say “Congratulations! I’m so happy for you.”

And you wonder why I’m an overachiever.
— — —
A year ago (or longer) on This Journey…

everybody’s trying to get going 2009
Impeachment 2008
overheard at Chez Journey #2 2008
Junk Mail 2007

January 7th, 2010 | Category: my crazy life | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL