Saturday:
Henry had to work on Saturday, so Chooch and I were left to our own devices. We spun some records and I curled his hair. I can’t believe he let me curl his hair.
Then he made fun of me because I sent Al from Basement a birthday snap and HE REPLIED and I was all goo goo-ga ga over this because I’m 16.
Maybe younger.
And then I found my favorite Cure t-shirt that I thought was gone forever, eaten by the trolls that live in the deep depths of my dresser drawers. Turns out I’m just really bad at looking for things.
Then Chooch and I were loose around Brookline for a while when we went for a walk. He was supposed to meet his friend at some lame gaming place but when you let two 5th graders make their own plans….
Let’s just say that our walk was all for naught and they ended up hanging out much later in the afternoon.
Surprisingly, we didn’t fight about it.
Oh!!! And I made him scrambled eggs too! I’m getting better at faking this mom act.
We had an early dinner at Frank & Shirleys. You can tell it was early because check out that table of Olds behind Henry!
The lady in the green kept staring at Chooch the whole time we were there, and not in an amicable, cuddly grandma way, either.
Major Burnt Offering vibes.
Shocker: Chooch and I both had grilled cheese. It was mildly satisfying.
Came home and watched The Forest. It was only OK but I still cried.
Sunday:
The day started with a Beatles song on the radio reminding me of the critically-acclaimed Tony Danza/Amy Dolenz movie “She’s Out of Control,” which I saw with my friend Spring at the Maxi-Saver theater, when it was like brand new, probably. This then reminded me of the era of my childhood where I used to pull a chair from the kitchen table over to the counter in order to watch my shows because the rest of my family monopolized the good TV. One of those shows was DARK SHADOWS, the short-lived early 90s remake, with MICHAEL T WEISS.
From here, I learned that Henry doesn’t remember when MICHAEL T WEISS played DR MIKE HORTON on DAYS OF OUR LIVES so I got (some might say irrationally) angry at him.
#POWERHOUSE
You should know that Henry just loves when I drag him along on these nostalgic drives through my childhood.
Especially when I can also tell him exactly what I was wearing during certain events.
(I don’t remember what I wore to see “She’s Out of Control,” though, but I remember it gave me hope that someday I too would get my braces off and suddenly not be an ugly duckling anymore. Eh….that never really happened. I got my braces off eventually, at least, but that didn’t bring all the boys to my yard.)
(Maybe a few.)
I found the Cure shirt I bought at their Maryland show in June, which I’ve only worn ONCE, and I was excited to wear it today especially once I realized my idiot nail polish matched it.
Then I started tearing up on the couch and Henry asked why I was crying.
“I was just thinking about how much I love Jennifer Aniston,” I answered wistfully, and he was mad.
Around 11, we drove to Valencia, wherever that is, for some long overdue hangs with Tommy & Jessy! I read the Pretty Little Liars wiki the whole way there, specifically the one about TOBY CAVANAUGH and was surprised at how much I forgot.
At one point, Henry asked me what I was reading and then mumbled, “oh my god” when I told him. He’s just salty because I watched the last season without him.
We met at the Bloom Cafe, part of Quality Gardens, where we all had lunch but Henry, who had feasted on a bag of soft pretzels en route to Valencia, opted for a scoop of ice cream instead.
Because Henry is an adult and he does what he wants. Be like Henry, eat ice cream for lunch.
Bromance rekindled!
Matching mouths.
Chooch has ice cream too, but only after he finished his lunch.
BECAUSE CHOOCH IS RESPONSIBLE.
After overstaying our welcome inside the Bloom Cafe, we moseyed around inside the greenhouse and I lamented the fact that I couldn’t buy any plant beauties because my cats are dicks.
Tommy, Jessy, and I all wanted ice cream after that so we drove down the road to Hammer’s and I was excited because I’ve never been there and you know me and ice cream joints. GOTTA TRY ‘EM ALL.
The flavor of the day was butterscotch! I love butterscotch! I bet those old broads at Frank & Shirley’s do too!
Fucking Henry decided to severely abuse his power as an adult and had ANOTHER ICE CREAM.
Unbelievable.
And the worst part was that he ordered the same fucking thing as me so I couldn’t swap with him if I didn’t like mine.
Well played, asshole.
Chooch was like, “uh….no, I’m good” when Henry asked him if he wanted anything because Chooch is not foolish enough to eat Second Ice Cream.
Chooch is nutritionally responsible.
(God, that’s such a joke but in this case he really was.)
It was a really nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon, for sure. Beautiful company, beautiful weather!
Plus I got to take pictures of my ice cream cone and you know how much I love that, basic blogger that I am.
This is going to be surprising, but Henry did not have ice cream for dinner. I don’t think he had anything for dinner, actually. But I did and that’s all that matters!
Originally, I planned on bookending the weekend with another horror movie, but instead, I’ve spent the whole evening watching 9/11 news specials, which is scarier than any horror movie I could be watching. I will never not cry over 9/11 and as horrific and tragic as it was, it feels so necessary to me to face it every year and mourn all over again. It’s the true American Horror Story. I will never forget where I was, and who I immediately wanted to be with when news broke: I wanted to be with Henry.
The same Henry who just shook his head and asked, “Why do you torture yourself with this?”
BECAUSE IT HAPPENED AND WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET.