Annual Dinner…
I cooked in January.
I made dinner.
Two sentences never before uttered from these fingers in 2010.
Sure it was just ham, scalloped potatoes and salad but there was a tinge o’ nostalgia wafting through the air.
“I remember these potatoes!” the 10 year old said dreamily.
“This is actually good” said the husband. I listened to hear if his voice went up. Higher tones mean liar liar pants on fire. I learned that from an authoritative movie on the subject, I Love You Man. Instead his voice stayed rock steady which can be interpreted as genuine shock. I learned that from being married to the same guy for 11 years. They ate in silence, eyeing me suspiciously.
It’s all part of the New Domestication Movement wherein I attempt to be a proper wife and mother. If I can get back from work early enough I can make a meal, catch the boy’s basketball game or the husband’s hockey game. My new motto is ‘make an effort, show no resentment’. I asked the husband if I could attend one of his early hockey games. He clutched his chest, laughed a frightening laugh and left the room. When he returned he said the game was cancelled and he hasn’t played since. he couldn’t believe that I finally asked to watch a game and the ice was ‘overbooked’. Fail.
The ten year old made the school basketball team. I caught his first game today. He waved when I walked into the gym. He and his team mates were warming up, shooting baskets of which none seemed to go into the basket. When the other team came in and began warming up it was evident there would be a slaughter and our boys were to be the lambs. Sure enough they scored 10 points without effort. The first basket for our team was courtesy of the boy. I was thrilled and I know he was happy I saw it. He tried unsuccessfully to come across as nonchalant about the whole ordeal and could I please stop holding my hand up for a high five because that’s embarrassing.
When we got home there was most of a cold pizza in it’s box on the counter and I secretly felt grateful that I didn’t have to cook again. One Domestic venture per day only. That’s the second part of the motto. Unfortunately that also means the 21 year old is not getting a ride home from work, again. I was half asleep when I picked her up last night -it was almost NINE PM! The noive!
Motto:
Doing One New Domesticated Movement everyday.
Disclaimer:
Except for dinners which will be prepared only one day per year usually in (but not restricted to) January of any given year. In the event of multiple domestic situations scheduled for the same day, something will be sacrificed and will not be to the detriment of the issuer.
