Dear me I need perspective.
Case in point. Our advent candle (which has been burning daily) is currently displaying two different dates. Pick the one that works for you.
You say magical. I say nightmare.
When I read today’s Finish The Sentence Friday prompt of “Dear Me …” I instantly conjured up a “Poor me, today I’ve got to bang out a post, walk the dog, wrap presents, make that second plum pudding, finish up my shopping, wash and cut up the fruit I’m taking to this afternoon’s dog walking group party, plan the menu for this Saturday’s family brunch, declutter the living room …” kind of perspective.
Francine, our 93 year-old dynamo certainly has a more positive perspective. About everything.
My daughter is home for the holidays and we are eagerly awaiting the imminent arrival of her brother. First things first – a meal out with my Mum at White Spot, the iconic BC restaurant. Mum loves it and my girl is starved for a fix as she can’t order it unless she’s at home.
Not surprisingly, things haven’t changed much in the two years since I wrote about the time Mum insisted on ordering from White Spot’s children’s menu.
The one time she ventured away from the safety of the kids’ offerings, she ordered the adult version of their Mac ‘N Cheese. Two bites in she declared it “far too spicy” and fired it back to the kitchen. We were then treated to a torturous session of back and forth “what shall I order now” deliberations. The answer? The children’s Mac ‘N Cheese.
Easy peasy? No.
From my perspective, Francine’s effort ordering a meal at White Spot is torturous.
Dear Me I Need Perspective
Don’t expect to hear “May I take your order?” because Mum bounds in first. Always.
This most recent episode was no different.
“We’ll have water (“Waw-tah” – yes, her parents were British) all around and I’m going to have the Mac ‘N Cheese.”
Silence. Oh dear lord, here we go. I’ve yet to glance at the menu and she’s ordering.
“I want the Kids Mac ‘N Cheese. NOT THE ADULT VERSION. That is FAR too spicy. You’ve fancied it up and added all sorts of dreadfully hot spices. It’s horrid.”
My mind scrambles. I’ve got two seconds to decide. Go for the 5000 calorie delicious triple-O hamburger complete with fistfuls of fries or opt for the modest and far less satisfying arugula Spot Salad with dressing on the side?
“And, now listen, please. I want the macaroni dumped onto a plate, a flat plate. NOT in the bowl. It never cools down fast enough in a bowl.”
Sweet jesus.
“And I’ll have your coleslaw on the side. Not the fries. On another plate.”
Please don’t let her mention the need for A. Bun. This. Second. The pill she takes to settle her stomach before eating always needs a little something to eat with it. Why didn’t I remember to bring something from home? Just TypiKel.
What about the server? Their poor mind must be swirling along the lines of this feisty old gal asking for the impossible. “She’s not 12. She can’t order off the kid’s menu. I have to tell her. And she wants her illegal kiddy mac dumped out onto one of two plates? What’s the deal with that?”
He sighs and the warm flush from his neck migrates upwards, mottling his apoplectic face before he suddenly hurls his pen into her hair and stomps back to the kitchen in a virulent fury …
He’s a vision with his head is cocked to the side, staring at Mum. Something clicks. His face breaks out into a huge wreath of complete pleasure.
“I remember YOU!”
Wait. What?
“You’re the lady who likes a bun before the meal arrives because you’ve just taken a pill and can’t wait for the kids mac ‘n cheese to arrive. No worries, I’ll quickly place your order and then I’ll zip right back with water and take the remaining orders.”
Mum nods and then asks her inevitable “And your name?” Important to note it for her diary entry.
Dave. He gives me a wink and skips off.
My daughter grins. “Can’t wait to see your post about this one.”
Mum studies her face in puzzlement and wonder.
“I don’t know what she’d write about other than the fact that life’s too short to put up with the wrong meal. But fancy Dave remembering me …”
Perspective. I saw it as cringeworthy, she saw it as necessary and Dave viewed it as funny. Dear me. I’ll truly try to remember to keep everything in proper perspective, Mum. Thanks.
Check out the other FTSF posts which can be found at Finding Ninee and Crumpets and Bollocks Dollars to doughnuts their perspective is as intended and they’re writing sincere and heartwarming letters to themselves.
Enough about me and my need for perspective. I’m curious about you. Have you got everything under control in these few remaining festive days? No? Care to join Mum and me at the White Spot for a kids mac ‘n cheese? If you’d care to share, I’d love to hear.
27 Responses
Again, your mom is the best and I just love hearing about her latest adventures here and will have to remember about Francine’s bun before the meal rule! 😉
You’d think after all the meals out with her that I’d remember to bring something for her to snack on, right? Maybe I’ll get my act together one day, Janine.
Oh, Kelly, I adore her! Damn – she’s nailed it, hasn’t she? And kudos to Dave!
Yes, kudos to Dave. I’d love to be a fly on the wall and listen to his chats about her with the kitchen staff. What a hoot. I’m sure she’s “famous” beyond the front of the restaurant.
It seems to be universal with moms…their daughters are mortified, but everyone else thinks they are a hoot. And by universal I mean you and me, at least.
You must be so happy to have your kiddos home with you!
“You and me, at least” Yes! Grinning here.
My daughter is home and once she gets that last paper finished we’ll be laughing. Met up with another mom whose daughter is at the same college out east and also back home. I mentioned that my girl is working on her paper at the dining room table and constantly complaining about being freezing. Janice burst out laughing and said her daughter is the same. Fiercely finishing a paper and freezing. Both must be exhausted we figure. My son gets home at the convenient hour of 01:00 early next week so hopefully paper will be done and we can bring on the festive cheer!
Ah, Dave. If only we could all run into Fancy Dave in the midst of our mind-numbing to-do lists and cringe-worthy moments! (And yes to kids’ mac-n-cheese.) Cheers to mum!
Fancy Dave! Yes. He is a gem. Of course I’m now hoping he is assigned to our table each and every time. My blood pressure could do with a little help. I’ll pass on your kind words to Mum. She’ll be tickled pink.
OMG this is PerfeKt. My daughter grins. “Can’t wait to see your post about this one.”
Mum studies her face in puzzlement and wonder.
“I don’t know what she’d write about other than the fact … so so perfeKtly typikal. I just love love it and am so glad you linked up.
Thanks Kristi. I’m asking Santa for only one thing this year. That we get Dave each and every time Mum treats us to the White Spot for lunch. That’s not too much to ask for, is it? Surely not.
Oh my dear…you’re spot ON. I love the waiter’s response and I LOVE YOUR MUM. She’s a kick in the head! The perspective angle as well…it’s one that I’ve struggled with this Christmas season. I had surgery on my left knee today and for the last two weeks I have been trying very hard not to sink into the Slough of Despond about the fact that I haven’t so much as put up a Christmas card or cleaned my house so I could decorate…because just as I was gearing up for doing the aforementioned activity, three days before Finals Week here at UAA, my left knee gave the most horrendous SNAPping sound and feeling…and I haven’t been able to put weight on my left leg since. Needless to say….it has been a bit difficult to not be down at the mouth about all of this. Perspective. You are SO right…perspective is key. Merry Christmas and hug your darling Mum for me!
O U C H. You had to navigate finals and life and festive desond/cheer with a buggered up left knee for two weeks? Whoa. I am sorry. Here’s to a speedy recovery.I shall pass on your kind words to Mum. She’ll be tickled pink and I know she’ll be firing healing energy your way.
Hee hee! Kelly, if Francine is any sort of role model to you, then I certainly hope you ordered the 5000 calorie delicious triple-O hamburger complete with fistfuls of fries.
I agree, too. The adult mac and cheese at restaurants these days is always gussied up so that it really isn’t even mac and cheese. It’s some farm-to-table, non-GMO dish with a fancy aioli sauce that defeats the purpose of being mac and cheese!
Hugs to Dave & White Spot.
Can’t you just taste that Triple-O? Yummy, yum, yum. And yes, what is it about the gussied up mac and cheese? One shouldn’t tinker with perfection. WS used to have the kids version on the adult menu and then they went and tinkered with it this past Fall. Hmmmm… perhaps a tweet or six hundred is in order.
Thank you for the nudge of perspective friend!! Your Mom always brings a smile to my face !! Kudos to her wants being met rather than settling as many of us do. From now on when I order at a restaurant I will wonder , what would Francine do??
Oh she’ll love that, Janice. As for me, I’m hoping against hope that we get Dave and only Dave, on each subsequent visit to that White Spot. Truly. Am having the family for brunch tomorrow and can not wait to chittychat with the younger members about her meal ordering process. It’s truly remarkable and not limited to WS orders.
I hope Dave got a great tip. I’d NEVER be able to remember a customer’s specific food requests like he did.
Oh he was tipped, let me tell you!
I hope you got everything done! My perspective needed some adjustment, and this post was just the thing to do it! Enjoy having your son and daughter home – and have a wonderful holiday season Kelly!
Thank you so much, Susan. I did get everything pretty much done. I think. Funny how it doesn’t seem to matter so much once the major festivities are over. Have friends coming by this afternoon and I’m zipping through my recipes looking for that one cake that I know they’ll love. I’ll find it. Lovely to be able to just sit and sip my coffee and look at the tree. Peaceful. I hope you are enjoying a wonderful festive time with your family too, Susan! Pressing the hold button so that our college three will be home for a while longer …
I grew up in Chilliwack, BC, I’ve very familiar with the White Spot and it’s Hawain burger with the big pineapple round… ~drooling~ This was such a pleasurable post. I LOVE your mother. I could stand to learn quite a bit from her perspective.
Chilliwack is a lovely part of the world. And I remember the Hawaiian burger! I don’t think it’s still on the menu but if you asked for it I bet they’d deliver. Thanks for your kind words about Mum which I’ll pass on to her. I know she’ll be tickled pink.
Oh, hooray for the Daves of this world! I’m sure you tipped him well. Love your mom!
Thanks, Beth. Yes, Dave received a well deserved, hefty tip. He’s quite a guy. Always there and if he isn’t serving us he’ll pop by with a smile and a wink.
I read this post days ago, and I swore I left a comment! White Spot is a must for us whenever we come to Canada. Your mom is just so special :). I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and haven’t floated away with all the rain. Happy New Year!
I think the elves have been having a little fun with WordPress lately, Lana. I’ve left comments and they’ve vanished as well. Happily we didn’t float away with all of the rain and are now enjoying brilliant sunshine. Isn’t it gorgeous? Oh – did you feel the earthquake last night? I did. It was odd. My bed didn’t shake but my closet doors and chest of drawers did.