June 15, 2003

Next: Quick Note On the Wonders of FOD

Fathers Day In Florida

Is it only little girls that are so enamored with their daddies? Do little boys feel that way ever? I am over 40 and not ‘little’ by any stretch of the imagination… and he is still “Daddy” and I am still toddling around in ankle socks with my hair in pigtails.

Sis’ husband has been here most of the week, so she has been enjoying time with him. She called the other night looking for a suggestion of a place she could take Daddy to lunch for Father’s Day – and of course I was invited as well! This is a deceptively simple sounding request which, in reality, requires great skill in forecasting, planning and balancing.

You see, Daddy eats lunch at 1 p.m. Exactly at 1 p.m. IF he does not eat lunch by 1 p.m., here’s how the rest of the afternoon looks: By 2 he is a grouchy old man, mildly amusing in his grouchiness. By 3 he is teetering on the edge of “Bastardom”. By 4 he has earned the title of World’s Biggest and Nastiest and Meanest and Grouchiest and Most Horrible Jerk Imaginable. By 5… he could take out the entire nation of Iraq (with or without Weapons of Mass Destruction) Single Handedly. Get the picture? If the man would simply admit to having a blood sugar problem……..sigh.

SO – lunch must be at 1. The float on that is plus/minus 10 minutes. That means a place which takes reservations is a must – especially on a holiday, such as Father’s Day, when folks are likely to be dining out. Most of the restaurants that are reasonably priced and enjoyable are strictly “first come/first serve” – not even a call ahead. McDonald’s is not an option – ew! The $75.00/person places are a bit more than po’ folks like us want to spend on something that’s GONE in an hour!

After much pondering, we lit upon an old standard. It has been around more than 20 years and takes reservations. We haven’t eaten there in more than 10 years…but assumed that since it was still in business that it must still be at least edible! Reservations made and all is hunky-dory.

Sis, Hubby, Dad and I had a very enjoyable meal. (Chickie had to work) The food was good, if not wonderful and the company was wonderful. For once Daddy didn’t have to pick up the check – hehe! The REALLY funny part was after we left and were standing outside in the parking lot saying good-byes.

Sis informed me that the people at the next table had been spending a lot of time trying to figure out who we all were – what our relationships to each other might be. When, at the meal’s end, Sis got up and hugged Dad and said Happy Father’s Day, they apparently got it all settled in their little pea-pickin’ brains – she was the daughter & married to the guy in the wheel chair…and I was the old guy’s wife. Ain’t people grand? (And let me just say that I don’t look older than Sis – people often inquire if she is my mother when we go places together!)

I laughed…and remembered a time about 24 years ago when Daddy and I had come to that same restaurant to eat. Mom had gone to a meeting, my hubby was working and Daddy and I were hungry! So…off we went – me big-as-a-house pregnant with the darling soul that would be my son. They took one look at us…and decided that here was a May-December romance in full bloom (hell – the bud was about to burst right out of my belly!) and they ushered us off to ‘lovers corner’ in the back. Secluded, private, kissy-kissy dark. Dad and I decided not to correct anybody’s notion, because somehow it made them overly attentive and solicitous. Sheee-it. Might as well get good service any way possible! LMAO.

So…24 years later – and Daddy and I are STILL apparently “married”. Don’t you just love the need people have to look at you and put you into a cubby hole they understand….even when they don’t understand a thing?

It’s surely a big bright beautiful world out there!!!!

lifeisuhmistury

June 16, 2003

Very funny notions folks have…hee,hee,hee. ***Scrunches up face and gives you a big goofy grin*** I’m glad you had a nice day with your sweetie…um, I mean sweet daddy-o! What a hoot that they ushered you back to “lover’s lane” when you were so ready to pop out young stud. LOL Does “studly” know about that story? Are you a MIL yet? ((((Big Hugs))))

Willy & Wilma

From a GE display at Disneyland decades ago: “There’s a big, bright, beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day”. In Merida, Mexico, recently, daughter K and I were walking the streets arm in arm–and my Spanish was enough to hear the comments about: Wow, look at the chick that old geezer has!” Your dad probably didn’t mind the mixup

BBe

Sometimes more beautiful than bright. :)))

Mns

ahaha.. and willy’s prolly right, too 🙂 seems it happens more often than i ever thought. daughter and i are often mistaken as sisters, or people think her kids are mine. occasionally when we’re out together people take a looong look; now either one of us has an embarrassing something stuck on our clothes or they’re trying to figure out the whole situation.

i tell daughter they’re all looking at her but then she says people only stare if someone is really pretty, or really ugly… and of course she infers the reason is the latter. lol. the most bizarre one i’ve experienced was when someone actually asked hubby if i was his daughter or wife.

as far as the father/daughter relationship, i think there is something to that, even when daughters are all grown up with children of their own. glad you had a good day~

aquaphoric

I know that feeling– I hate when I take my cousins out somewhere and someone thinks I am their mother. I get those looks like “you’re so young” I take Caleigh places a lot, and she’s 10, but looks 6… still, i would have had to be 13. COME ON PEOPLE. *shakes head* or even going on walks with my baby cousins around the block…. people are stupid. glad you had a good day.

Ainekate

I’m baack! LOL! People get weird ideas sometimes, huh? Last year one of our neighbours made a comment thinking my dad was my husband. *shaking head* Sounds like you had a great Father’s day though. Had a great visit with our mutual friend. We almost phoned you yesterday but time got away from us. I just got home late this afternoon, but am still waiting for my suitcase to show up. (argh!) *hugs*

Luna

June 17, 2003

Living in California, I learned long ago not to assumed anything about anyone’s relationship with anyone. Not that there is anything wrong with that. 🙂 Is the name of the place you went a secret?

Elle: 2

LOL…good entry…sounds like you all had a great day…and there’s no accounting for people…too funny – some people just need to thing they know everything… Smiles,

Lael

shyly admits to having to run in the mall the other day to pay a bill and didn’t want to walk 5miles so I parked in expectant mother spot and poked out my belly and waddled in the mall…..ducks and giggles……… can’t beat em join em Lael

Torin Invanusson

I’ve heard about families like that. I think there’s a few of them around here. With a wicked grin…

Thank goodness Dad got fed in time! 😀

a mote, floating

At the start of our relationship, it took a while for me to realize why M sometimes got extremely grouchy; now I just tell her to eat or I put an energy bar in her hands. Found out from her bro-in-law that her sister’s the same way. I can relate on the preconceptions, too — M’s a year older but I’m the one with gray hair, and sometimes folks mistake me for her mother….

darkart

🙂 Mummy and Daddy knows best, regardless of how old we get, its an adage that usually always proves true no matter how long it has been!

Hello Sunny..I was about to delete all my scrappy overseas jottings and i see stacks of notes!! so surprised so now I am struggling to reply ..tired I is dear wolfie but must thank you and next reply may be better. lerv from sydney alexias

The note up there about the world being more beautiful than bright…too funny!! And all too true! ~:D

Do stop by OD and see the Miss Sunshine in our house. #1 Daughter thought of you. With a smile…Torin, unsigned

My dad is often my “date.” His wife is very much the gadabout and he hates being a gadabout. And I, of course, have no life whatsoever, so it’s Dad and me for movies, lunch, etc. But I don’t mind. My dad is the best dad in the entire Universe (next to yours, of course!) and it’s pretty nice to go places with him.

i do love reading you! 🙂 ONce, and only once a daytona beach italian place thought dad was dating me. I was still in high school and living with dad, mum and the boys were selling the house and we were driving home from his new job, just had to go get something to eat before we finished the drive. Was great fun to go in with the whole family when the house finally did sell

oh yea, i want to know what happens when he eats at twelve forty seven instead of one? 🙂

I’m glad you had a great father’s day. I miss my dad so much.

So it’s fathers day and two daughters can’t take daddy out to dinner? Come on!! What’s up with these peoples slow minds! Although my dad and I were asked if we’d got married when we were seen together before the wedding!

U R WONDERFULLLLL