Valentine's Day
Our family isn't all that into Valentine's Day. Just an exchange of sappy cards and stuff. I usually give the kids a nice box of chocolate truffles, but they covet them so intensely that they're afraid to eat them, lest they disappear eternally from their life. So I usually find the box, completely full and forgotten in some remote, cobweb infested cabinet. Take it from me, they don't, like fine wines, age with time (and mold). To get back on track, however briefly, we stayed home, watched American Idol and ate pizza. I did bake the kids some Valentine's Day cookies and do their chores for them. Fortunately, it was their light day--just emptying trash throughout the house. Nevertheless, because my kids have strong allergies to work of any kind, I was feeling quite charitable and proud as I drove to the school's parent drive to pick Annika up. Couldn't wait to spring the big news on her--yep, she would have a bonafide chore-free day. Whoopee. But at the apex of my euphoria, I saw a white stretch limo that was a quarter mile long if it was an inch, idling in the middle of the parent drive circle as if to announce, "Here to pick up the important kids. Nothing to see here, Peons. Go back to your meaningless existences." Some lucky kids got a ride home in the limo as a Valentines Day present. Hmmm. Let's see. No trash duty, limo ride. No trash duty, limo ride. Decisions, decisions. Naturally, my maternal ego was a bit deflated, but I justified the whole thing with thoughts like, "Ha, do they ever have a pile of trash waiting for them at home," and "Poor kids, they didn't get into the limo until 99% of the other kids had been picked up already. No parading their extravagance in front of the peasants. How sad." Anyway, I hope your Valentines Day was fun and trash-free too.