a special mother's day card

A few days ago I go to buy a Mother's Day card. I suggest to Alexander that he meet me at Duane Reade (DR) to do the same for his two grandmothers. 

"Can't you do it for me?" he asks. "No, the card should reflect your thoughts."  "Okay, "I'll meet you there in a  few minutes."

There is a DR a half block from our apartment, and another one two blocks further in the other direction.

Ten minutes later I'm still in the card section, reading through the funny cards, the sentimental ones, the boring ones — all with the hope of finding one that resonates some truth or special meaning for my mother. And still, no Alexander.

I call him.

"Hey, where are you?"

"I'm back."

"What do you mean you're back?  I thought you were meeting me here."

"I went to the DR on Second. I already got the cards and now I'm home."

"Why'd you go to the DR that's on Second and not the one around the corner on York?"

"I don't know. I thought you'd be there."

It takes me another 15 minutes to find the right card and I come home.

"So let me see what you got?"

He shows me this.

 

"Alexander, what is the significance of this? Your grandmothers both have cats. They've never had golden retrievers. You should pick cards that are meaningful to them."

"Okay, I'll return them and get something else."

Today is Mother's Day.  I have to work, so cannot spend it at my sister's club with Alexander and the rest of my family.  I miss everyone.  

After work I see the new musical American Psycho with Susan. I thought I'd hate it, but end up really liking it. Very clever staging, lyrics, and a stellar cast.

I get home around 10:30 and see an envelope on the table. Awww, he did get me a card, I think.

I open it.  The sentiment inside is witty and heartfelt.  

 

But it's the card itself that makes me laugh.

 

I am really going to miss my son when he moves in a few days.