Graduation

My oldest nephew - the first of 13 nephews and nieces - graduated from High School last night. Unreal. This is one of the 10 by marriage -- hubby has 5 brothers. Still, when I met my hubby in 1991 he was only 4! Time truly does fly.

The plan was to leave our house by 6 sharp to make it to graduation by 7:30. First, hubby decides he needs to go downtown (that's to DC from Bethesda) before coming home. WHY he chose this particular day I am not sure. Regardless, I rush home, get the girl ready & the doggie fed, walked and set. We are ready. Waiting. Waiting. 230 "Where's Daddy?"'s later, Daddy pulls up. We load up & are good to go.

Then He says, "we have to go get my mom" - which prompts my hormonal (I'm sure) response "I am not going" I get out and go back in the house. He follows, "Ok ok ... we won't go get my mom, she's not even home yet. Let's just go."

Ok so normally I am not this much of a beeeotch. I really truly don't mind my mother in law so much. What I mind is waiting, and waiting, and waiting for her. There is NO way we'd make it to the graduation on time, because 1) she's not home and 2) when she does get home she has to get "ready". "Getting Ready" includes outfit selection, make-up, hair, camera locating, shoe selection, finding various random things to bring, etc.

I am tired .. I am cranky .. I am IN NO MOOD. In fact, all I want is to lay on the couch and sleep. But I rally. Things are back on track. Straight to the Patriot Center, do not pass go, do not stop in Fairfax Station, do not go to jail.

On the way, his mom calls and though the conversation is mostly in Vietnamese I know he is getting (& giving) an earfull. I hear Vietnamese Vietnamese Vietnamese words "navigation system" surrounded by more Vietnamese words & I know he is saying "THIS IS WHY I BOUGHT YOU THAT NAVIGATION SYSTEM." This simultaneous to his OWN navigation system (why is it on? cause its a new toy) YELLING (because the volume is turned all the way up) "TURN LEFT, TURN RIGHT" AND the girl in the back "Mama, why are leaves green?" "Mama, why do leaves turn brown?" "Mama, why do they fall down?" "Mama, what is autumn?" Mama, MAMA, MAMMMMMAAA!" She did also add "I am not graduating today. I will graduate tomorrow. I am all done with High School" ;)

He finally hangs up ... my head is about to explode. He takes over answering of questions and I try to pretend I am asleep or dead. Anything to stop the barrage of questions

We make it to the graduation. Gramma arrives around 30 minutes late.