When It Rains, It Pours

Sometimes you just have those days. Or weeks...

As some of you know, I joined a professional fraternity this year. Part of being a member is that we have to attend the events for new pledges. Monday was one that involved a formal interview in front of the chapter. The final question was who do you admire most. Nearly every single answer? My mom. The first time it was cute. The second time it was cuteish. The fifth time? I'm going to kill one of you if you don't choose a different person to freaking admire! By the time number twelve rolled around, I was pretty much done. Now, I know it sounds selfish to hate on the people who happen to admire their mom, but it just took a toll this week. Don't judge :)

For every holiday, big or small, mom made me, and later Karissa, sign our name to a card. There were Halloween cards, Valentine's Day cards, Easter, Passover, Grandparent's Day, etc. When we got old enough, we were expected to include a little note. Today, in my wiser days, I see that that is just what you do when you are a considerate person. Back then, I hated it. "How annoying. I'd much rather be doing who knows what else." Yesterday I had to take a trip to Fred Meyer. I figured while I was there, I would grab a card for an upcoming birthday. Big mistake. Tromp, tromp, tromp; up the stairs I go (the Corvallis Fred Meyer has an upstairs…I'm not a fan), when what do my wandering eyes behold? A solid wall of pastel colored Mother's Day cards. It is in front of this wall that Nathan found me 10 minutes later, just staring. For someone who hates writing cards, I have never wanted to buy one so bad in my entire life.

About this time last year, my mom apologized profusely for not being well enough to come to the annual moms and family weekend at OSU. She looked at me and said that maybe next year, now this year, she would make it. Whilst sitting in my physics lecture this afternoon, it hit me hard. This weekend is moms weekend and she won't be here. But this year, I can't go home and see her either. Talk about a double whammy. And to top it all off, this weekend is the Kentucky Derby. I can't remember a year when mom didn't watch the Derby. And not just the race. She watched all the coverage leading up to it.

Sometimes you just have those weeks.

Until next time,

Karina