May 26, 2014

  • the day i made my mom cry

    You're crazy and I'm out of my mind.

    - John Legend, All of Me

    -+-

    We stood in the elevator to the airport terminal, and I rested my head on his shoulder.

    He asked me, "Are you okay?"

    I choked back tears and forced a smile, "Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just getting a little sentimental."

    He took my shoulder and pulled me closer, "Aw, gurl."

    -+-

    Belated post from May 16th, 2014. Between 11pm and midnight.

    MOM (Picks up a pair of heart-shaped, diamond-studded earrings.): Do you want these earrings?

    DAUGHTER (Hesitantly.): Uh... how much are those worth?  I tend to lose earrings really often.  See these?  (Points to ears.) Five bucks at the mall.

    MOM: Maybe two grand?  Don't worry about it, you need to wear something nice if you're attending a wedding.

    DAUGHTER: Two grand?!  Mom, I'd wear those to my wedding.

    (Laughter.)

    DAD: So when's this wedding you're talking about?

    DAUGHTER: Well, I don't even have a boyfriend yet, so not for a while! (Laughs.)

    (DAUGHTER grabs a piece of paper and a pen.)

    DAUGHTER: Actually... mom, sit with me!  I want to show you something. (MOM sits.) Since we're on the topic of weddings and whatnot, I know that you're really looking forward to having a grandchild someday. (MOM nods.) Well, since I don't even have a boyfriend yet, I can't give you a grandkid for a really, really long time, but here's something I can give you. (Holds up pen and paper.) Have I already told you what I want to name my daughter? (MOM shakes her head.) So I've planned it for years, maybe five years now. You know how girls are with planning their kids' names and their weddings and whatnot.

    (DAUGHTER writes "Aerilyn" on the paper.)

    DAUGHTER: So "Aerilyn" is originally written with a "y," but I replaced it with an "i" to spell "Aerilin."

    (DAUGHTER crosses out "Aerilyn" and replaces with "Aerilin." She adds "Danielle" to write "Aerilin Danielle." She holds it up to MOM.)

    DAUGHTER: Aerilin Danielle.  That's what I'm naming my daughter someday.  Do you know why I'm naming her that?

    MOM (Shakes her head.): No, why?

    (DAUGHTER takes the pen and underlines part of the name written on the paper.  The paper now reads "Aerilin Danielle" to highlight MOM's name, ERLINDA.)

    MOM: That's beautiful.

    DAUGHTER: I'm naming my daughter after you.

    MOM (Chokes up.): I'm so happy.  Even after I die, my name... (Trails off.)

    DAUGHTER: Even though I'm not going to be able to give you a grandchild until a long, long time from now... know that someday, your granddaughter is going to be named after you.

    MOM (Crying, wiping away tears.): Thank you, sweetie.

    DAUGHTER (Takes MOM's shoulder and pulls her closer.): Happy belated Mother's Day, mom.