Prescription for a terrible day…
|27.Apr.2007So, after posting yesterday’s disaster, we hopped in the ‘burban and headed to Chili’s. Jeff wasn’t even home yet. We called and said, “Meet us in heaven” and he knew exactly where to go.
Why Chili’s? Y’know, I don’t really know. It was the place Jeff and I spent our last dollars in college. We’d go and sit for hours talking and eating the bottomless chips and splitting an appetizer (yes, the waitors adored us). It was where we decided we were absolutely mismatched and therefore, must marry. It is where we looked through pamphlets and decided where Jeff would go for his graduate work. It was where I took Emelie for her birthday party a couple of weeks after Jeff left for basic training.
It heals wounds.
It brings smiles.
It is all an association and I don’t give a rip, because PEOPLE … it works.
Here’s proof.
The wait was short, the booth was in a corner, the waitress was on top of it, and the stress of the day was gone by the time the four of us (Jeff wasn’t there – he was on call and got called back out halfway home) finished off the first basket of chips.
Somewhere along the way Kenny burped – and then Emelie released one (by accident, of course), and I tossed one in for good measure and to off-set the table’s burp balance. There were other bodily noises of which we will not speak, but Kenny repeated his favorite line from Robots directly after – “Food can’t talk … except for beans.”
Yes, well…
Then there was the butt-chip conversation. What is a butt chip? A butt-chip is what happens when a 10 year old tosses a shard from a tortilla chip, it passes her brother, and then slides down the back of the guy in the booth behind us. He never knew, but I’m sure they heard us snorting with laughter. What? My age? Oh, I’m 34. What of it? We imagined him finding the butt-chip later – stuck to his … butt – that butt-chip. And yes, “butt” is a word that can toss any child 10 years and younger into terrible fits of laughter. Okay, 34 year olds too.
We came home laughing and giggling and talking about the funny things in the evening over and over. And everyone said prayers and thanked God for giving us another GOOD DAY. My kids are amazing – they closed their eyes smiling. There is no forgiveness like a child’s forgiveness.
12 Comments
MMM
How beautiful and wonderful. I prayed for you! I love the pics!!!! I’m gonna go look closer, now so I can laugh, too.
Butt is one of our fave words, but don’t tell anybody…..
OMSH
MMM – “Butt is one of our fave words, but don’t tell anybody…..” – Of course not, my lips are sealed.
Jill - GlossyVeneer
Man, your pics of Chili’s makes it look so fun. It’s never that fun when my husband and I go — Maybe if we had more Butt Chip conversations! :-) I’m glad your prescription helped.
Mr. OMSH
Yes the kids are wonderful…But Baby, you are more. I love. you. immensely.
Annika
How do I apply to become a member of your family? I am 28 and I think butts are hilarious.
Laura/PinkFontGirl
first i read the bummed out entry, and was sad for you, and then i read this one and was happy for you again. may you have many more Chili’s-esque days in your future (though, i think without the ACTUAL Chili’s…that could start to get pricey)
MMM
;^)
Tanya
Wow – just delurking to say that my boyfriend and I heart Chili’s too! Whenever we need a break from the world we hop in the car, drive about 2 hours (yes, there are SEVERAL closer but the drive is down the Pacific Coast Highway so we don’t care) and we have dinner and we hold hands and we talk about everything/anything. And we laugh. And seriously, we love their food.
Friglet
You made some wonderful memories for your kids that they will talk about for years. :)
OMSH
Jill – there is something about kids that can turn any outing into a terrible mistake or a grand experience. Rarely are there “in betweens” when we go to restaurants. Either Jeff and I are BEGGING for the bill or we are cracking up.
Mr.OMSH – I’d never survive without you baby. Not a day. You are my heart, my love. Are you going to sing “I will go there with you” for ME now? Tables do turn, don’t they?
Annika – I’ll tell you what I tell everyone that walks in my house. Once you’re in here, you’re family. So how do you apply? Walk across my threshhold – just walk across the threshhold.
Laura/PinkFontGirl – Thank you – And? You aren’t kidding about the $$$. It is cheaper than a therapy session or an actual prescription though. :)
Tanya – Totally off topic. Tell your boyfriend that I couldn’t stop watching that stinkin’ online sitcom, Life From the Inside he works on. I went to your blog – then to his. Too cool. I am currently waiting to see if the dude will sing jingles or go to Norway. Dang agoraphobia.
Glad to have a few Chili’s fans, btw.
Friglet – I keep thinking we have all the time in the world for good memories, but then I realize tomorrow will arrive and I’ll be holding my grandchildren and listening to my kids tell horror stories about the day momma flew off the handle and ran through a plate glass window. And then? As if that wasn’t bad enough, she packed a pellet gun in her hospital bag and shot the doc in the butt when he wouldn’t give her MORE MORPHINE! Man, those were the days.
Of course we don’t have a window like that and morphine makes me vomit, but I’m given to hyperbole, so they probably will as well. *smerk*
Point being – yea, memory making is a must.
Cathy
Great to hear you guys had such a great time! There’s no Chili’s around here, but next time we head into “town”, we’ll have to check it out!