Simple things

Grabbed a late lunch/early dinner today after band practice. It was just the three of us since younger child went to his mom's this weekend. Since it was Mother's Day, they had pink and white balloons all over the place.

When the waitress brought the check, she handed me a flower and said "Happy Mother's Day." I was a bit surprised since older child looks nothing like me. But it made me feel good that we looked like a family. It's a goofy thing that doesn't matter to anyone else. Then again, it really has been a long time since I've felt like I've been part of a family.

Don't take that the wrong way. Despite being a child of divorce, being with mom and younger sibling did feel like a family. But I've been living on my own for the past ... 13 years now? Living with a boyfriend doesn't feel like a family. Neither did being married and having a dog, a cat and four ferrets. And despite some of the complications (read: living arrangements and CWB) in my current situation, it's the first time since I've been out on my own that I feel like I'm part of a family again.

I do have a great family. But I've been up here for almost six years now. I've been back to the Bay Area four times in those six years. It's easy to feel a little isolated. But with Scott and the gang, I feel like I'm a part of something again; I've more or less got a family of my own now.

I'm not trying to be anyone's mother, or take the place of their mom. What passes for parenting skills from me comes from the way I was raised and common sense. Be courteous, don't be obnoxious and don't make us ask you 10 times to get ready for bed. Pretty simple stuff.

A single flower doesn't mean a whole lot in the grand scheme of things. But at least for today, it's a reminder that I'm a part of something very wonderful.

As if I really needed a reminder.