BACK TO SCHOOL, MOMMY!

Thank God, you finally chose dancing to dishwashing. It’s hard to believe that you’ve once had a life to die for, a life that we were never a part of. It’s harder to believe that it took you 25 years to get back. And trust me it was the hardest for me to say a meek, shy, long distance, “have a nice time”. For, all these years both nice and not so nice times were well knit within the family. For a person who showed no keen interest in regular personal grooming activities, you sounded 18 when you vied for heavy budget facials. Believe me, you deserve all that and more. You sounded 18, when you discussed your clothes, planned your agenda, resolved to stay late hours - you were such an excited teenager, so 18 going on 47! You let your hair down, clicked endless pictures with best buddies in all those nostalgic college spots, did a fair bit of bitching, gossiped your vocal cord out and danced like there’s no one watching! I liked the way you answered your friend’s daughter.

“Aunty, how do you feel being in college after all these years?”

“I feel young”.

I’ve always seen you grow older with me and I kind of missed being with you, the day you un-grew those 25 long years. I wish I could’ve been there, but this was the best way for it all to happen – no family, no demands, commands, complaints and disappointments! It was your day and I guess we all wanted you out of the house for a while too – for your good and ours;). I felt a role reversal, you the berserk daughter and me the old, wise mom! I hope your “back to school” experience taught you a little more than what it did in the 80s. I hope it reminded you of the joy of choosing your own friends (after all these years of strictly limited friends chosen or destined by your children and spouse). I hope it reminded you of a life that you could still own. Finally, I really hope that it reminded you of an education that you sacrificed for the three notorious others in your family. A tiny hope in my heart says, back to school could mean back to work, back to your old, forgotten self. Really, life’s pretty much about early mornings, breakfast, snack, lunch, tea, dinner, shopping (groceries), wiping, washing, morning milk, evening milk, night milk etc… but guess what? It’s pretty much not too. I realize that as I slowly assume your role in a different family with different expectations. I totally appreciate all those years of your dedicated attention… you were simply amazing. But don’t drop your dancing shoes off yet, because I believe, that the special day in your life has set the dice rolling back in time.