We’re having a Jacuzzi installed as part of our long-awaited bathroom renovation project which means a portal to access the motor has to be installed in an adjacent room and the contractor suggested Son’s room, now missing Son. For better or worse, I am notoriously lax about the kids getting all their belongings out of the house once they move out of the house so I began stacking Son’s left behind things against the far wall in preparation.
I pulled a box from under the bed that was layered with dust and discovered it contained broken headlights from Son’s first car. That was seven years ago. I suddenly felt like I didn’t have any business going back that far into the personal heirlooms of someone who wasn’t present at the moment. Husband appeared in the doorway as I cradled a broken headlight in my lap.
HUSBAND: Having some trouble letting go?
OSV: Me?? It’s not my stuff.
HUSBAND (walking away): Uh huh.
Son responded to my call immediately by texting that he’d be over Monday evening to take care of it. Around dinnertime if that would be convenient.
By the time that moment arrived, I had already been to Lowe’s twice, Home Depot once, the tile distributor three times and KFC in between where I discovered that fast food really is bad for you when I dropped gravy on my favorite leather bag. Shit. I would rather be at school but I’m between sessions. For me, the home remodeling process is like being pecked to death by a duck.
Daughter called with her bad day as I was putting dinner on the table.
DTR: Today was the WORST. I was running to catch a bus and I fell really bad and went skidding across the street on my face. It was hideous. No one stopped to help me. No one.
OSV: Oh my God! Where did this happen?
DTR: 90th and 1st. No one helped me. I couldn’t believe it. If someone even came close enough to step over me I would have grabbed their leg with my good hand.
OSV: Well, you know Upper East Siders.
DTR: No, it was in front of the projects.
OSV: Well, you know the projects.
DTR: The people were so rude! It wasn’t like last time.
OSV: Oh, when you got run over by the bicycle in Chelsea?
DTR: Yeah, the stupid bike messenger. Everyone came to help me then, everyone.
OSV: Those were the days.
Husband came home tired from his bad Monday at work and then Son arrived looking like he was on top of the world. He leaned against the counter smiling and regaled us with stories about his job, his life, and the great house he’s renting with friends. After a hearty portion of shrimp marinara and penne he strode into his old bedroom, looked around at the mass of debris and rubbed his hands together.
SON: Okay, what’s the plan?
The theme for Daughter’s Featured Fotos today is Leftovers
the flatiron building. left over from a classier time
the pigeon. nyc’s leftover bird
william h. seward. famous for buying leftover frozen land
yesterday’s leftovers