After rehearsing for the main event, Little One and I got dolled up with the rest of the party and stepped out to rehearsal dinner. When we got into town She was ready to dive in to the festivities! Literally. A nice gentleman came up and began baby talking to the sweet widdle baby-boo. Little One, said, "save it, Grampa, I'm here to party!" And proceeded to get a firm grip on either side of his martini glass, and yank it towards Her face. Well, if She wanted his manhatten, She got it. ALL of it.
All over Her head, and all down Her delicate, hand-sewn dress. An excellent start. I got Her wiped down and dried off and gave Her a quick lecture on moderation, and though we both reeked of gin, we were back to hobnobbing soon. We sat down for a yummy dinner and She had a nice time watching all the action and chowing down on veggies and rice. Until. She began to get sweaty. And squirmy. And whimper. Perhaps Her first alcohol binge was quickly followed by Her first hangover.
Just as dinner plates were being set down, Little One looked at me in panic, reached up Her little arms....and projectile vomited through Her nose. It was like a busted dam of baby goo.
We know how to class up a fancy party all right!
I swept Her up and out of there as fast as I could, and luckily a good samaritan brought us a damp towel and insisted on running out for some pedialyte.
After that and some walking up and down the street getting shh-shhed and cuddled a bit, Little One rallied and we were back in the party, now both smelling of gin AND vomit, in time for Lordy the Most Thoughtful Bride Ever to remind me that it was, by the way, my birthday. Awww. Thanks Lordy!
A little chocolate cake for me and a little flirting with Lordy's dad for Little One, and we were back to celebrating in our new perfume.
We had a lot of fun, but decided to head back earlier than the rest of the crew, so we made the long dirt-road drive home alone. It was exciting. Because there are no lights on the road! No stripes to follow! No road signs! I do not, I regret, have pictures of myself getting in and out of the Kia in my silk high heels to send up little poofs of dust in the headlights, haul open the rusty cattle gate, drive through, get out, and shut it behind us. But it did make me giggle. I do have a picture of what caused us to slam on the brakes just as we crested a little hill. It was this guy, snoring away in the middle of the road. Oh my.
After hauling Little One in Her car seat, a diaper bag, a purse, and bags of presents all up a hill in the darkness to fumble my way into the ranch house, we had made it, and I have to say it was all actually kind of fun. And it made me feel acutely aware of being a Mother. Because here I was bumping along some road in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night, not too sure whether I was lost, or about to hit a cow, or about to get the kia stuck or smashed into a boulder, unable to call anyone for help if I did, and there was Little One in the back seat, sleeping as peacefully and contentedly as can be.
I remember being in the backseat when my mom drove along an icy cliff in Colorado with no guard rail, or through the blistering desert of Moab Utah, or limping into a remote Texaco with a flat tire. I remember thinking, "This is fun! What an adventure!" I do not remember having any concern for my safety. Neither did Little One. Because She has now for me what I always had for my mom- total trust in the infallible capability of Mothers to handle all things and make them ok.
That's a lot of responsibility. But finding myself in my mother's place, I felt really strong and capable and confident. I would make that measly drive and get us home safe, because I had too. Just like I will make a lot of life turn out ok. I believe that I will, because I
have to. Because I am the mom. Because Little One is counting on me. That kind of total trust and faith is a lot to live up to, but I think it is what gives mothers the superpower to catch spiders, confront monsters under the bed, and hug away nightmares and fevers and boo-boos.
Being a mother is full of wonder, because I get to see the truly limitless, amazing potential of another human being develop right before my eyes, every day, as I watch Little One learn and grow. Also because, as I hold Her hand along Her way, with a clarity I never had before I get to see the potential in myself. Which is a lot bigger than I ever knew. Though I suspect now, that my mother did.
For my birthday, Lordy took time from HER party to give me cake and a present and a hug. She didn't know it, but for her rehearsal day she gave me a little rehearsal, too. Lets consider that drive- not being able to see ahead, rolling with the twists and turns and roadblocks, hitting the occasional pothole or bumpy patch- a practice run for life. I hope I can steer us as safely.
