Mother's Day Without Mom (or Dad)

I'm from a big family. A family that is so big that I really don't even know the names of half of the members. My Great Grandmother, I called her Popo (sounds more like Paw Paw, only with a Cantonese accent that I can't duplicate anymore), and she had thirteen children. She wasn't even five feet tall, and she lived to be in her late nineties. I remember eating Christmas dinner with the family, there wasn't any room to play hide and seek. These days, my generation's getting ready to have children, so I know that there are well over a hundred direct descendants.

My branch keeps it simple for Mother's day, grandparents, the uncles and aunts, the kids (that's me!) and our partners. We were seventeen last night, split between the "adult" and "kid" tables. My aunt bought steak enough for me, my sister, and her boyfriend, because mom and dad are in Mexico right now for my cousin's wedding. I hate ALL potato salad that is made with mayonnaise, except for my grandma's. I had seconds of that. And Caesar salad with Parmegiano Regiano cheese, and yam fries.

It was a treat to have steak. I gave my grandmother a screen print that I made of her in college called Grammie's a Looker. Of course, she loved it, because I made it and it's about her. I also had the chance to give a cousin of mine a piece that I made with her help; it's this Leather book that has her wandering around a tree, through five seasons. Personally, I think that it's more good concept than good art, but my family had never seen it before so everyone got a hoot out of it. Mom, if you're reading this, I will make you something for when you get back so that you don't feel left out.

And later, full of Steak and Potatoes and Mayonnaise, I went off to Sanctuary. Imagine a bar sparsely filled with goths, only now the young ones are emo, and then add music with lots of bass. It was nice, but kinda lonely without Alicia. I liked it well enough, but I didn't even spend ten dollars, and was out the door again trying to get home. I don't know, I started feeling like I wanted home-now.

When I caught the bus, there was a security guard standing right by the driver. Big guy, and every time we stopped, he would stop people from getting on the bus if they didn't have $2.25. I was kinda angry at that, but whatever, right? Until we got to Hastings and Commercial, and he tried to stop a middle aged woman. I got up out of my chair and covered her, I mean it's Mother's day. I dedicated that to you, Mom.

PS: Real gift when you get back.