MONDAY, MONDAY................

LADIES WHO LUNCH

Tomorrow is a lunch day. I use to be a lady who lunched. We've all seen them. They are in groups, known each other for years and watched their families grow up and prosper.  I use to be a card carrying member of that club. I could order a salad nicoise with the best of them, but now, I prefer more intimate lunches that are long and lingering and if there is a bottle of wine to be shared, even better. Who was it who said, "I still have bouts of being a lady, but they pass."

Let me say that I am not ashamed of my family, but the truth is that both of my sons are struggling now. One has a mental illness and is manic. He was severely depressed before Christmas. He will not take his medication and I can't force it down his throat.  The other is going through the divorce from hell.  His soon-to- be X-wife reads this blog and refers to me as the Anti-Christ, so I'll be sure to do a shout out to her. I  hope she is enjoying all of the jewelry she was given by my son and myself. Here's an insider tip: if she decides to pawn or Ebay her wedding rings, which are beautiful and in a platinum setting, knock yourself out.............the center stone is a fake. 

But I digress.  Lunch?  yes......lunch, tomorrow.....4 of us, sharing our lives, as the stomach churns.  They have lovely families and that isn't my beef.  It's my response to it all. When it's my turn, I am not able to tell them how it really is, because they don't come with the ability or tools to really understand. It's like when somebody say's "How are you?" and you really tell them............ain't gonna happen at this lunch. "FINE, FINE, FINE as frog fur" will be my answer.  I am a master of changing the subject.  One lady is good at going back to the original question. 

So asI ponder. I think of my dearest friend Vivian. I almost killed her with my home made cranberry sauce once. I blamed it on the damned french canning jar with the chipped glass on the top.  She was eating it and spit glass on the table and yelled, "Are you trying to kill me?"  "Not unless it was a quick death, I responded. After all I am merciful!" Vivian has taught me so much about life. She also found herself in this dilemma once. They all went around the table and told about their blessed lives, outstanding universities their kids attented on scholarships and with honors. They lingered over the salad and how intelligent and gifted they all were. It was her turn as all eyes were cast in her direction. She paused and after awhile she smiled and said, "My kids always eat everything on their plates!"  

Mind do too!   Thank God!  Did I hear somebody from the back pew yell, "Good answer"?