Funny the Way It Is...

Tonight was one of those nights that makes me forget about all of the bullshit the has been the norm for the past couple of years. It didn't really start out as anything remarkable...I got off work, picked up the girls from their father's, and decided to take them out for pizza. Pretty standard, right? I thought so. First, we stopped at home to feed the cats and drop off their stuff...Sara and I were waiting for Em in the kitchen, sneaking a few pre-dinner Cheetos, when Sara suddenly asked me in her matter-of-fact way:


"Mommy, do you really kiss better than you cook, like the sign says? Because I think you're the best cook in the whole world!"

How does a responsible parent answer this question?! Well, who knows, really...but here's what I said:

"Well, I don't know, Sara...I guess you'll just have to ask around on both counts..."

This made her giggle...and me, too...and it was a good preface to the evening to come, as Em finally emerged from her room and we headed to the Othello's...I know I've mentioned it before, but O's is kind of my place. One of my best friends, Nancy, is part owner and general manager, and I know most of the staff. The girlfriends and I used to go there every other Thursday to catch up...until I went and got a divorce, and now I have my kids on Thursday nights, putting a damper on the Thursday Girls Club. But we still make it there on the occasional odd (non-Thursday) night, and about once a month, when the kids are craving a pizza, I take them there now.

I was happy to see Nan working tonight, along with several of the servers I know pretty well. Once we were seated, Nan came and hung out with us for awhile, and we ordered our pizza. Angel and Katie and Hannah all stopped by to talk to us, and business was steady, so we were having a good time. Nan left for a bit to check on our pizza, which had been entered incorrectly, and in the meantime, Sara quietly put away three loaves of bread dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar...we didn't care that the food was a little late. We were having fun.

A single guy had come in and been seated at the table next to us with his little boy, and I could see him trying to catch my eye. Before long, he turned around and introduced himself. His name, of course, is Brian...like my ex...and like one of the guys I've dated off and on over the last few months. We made idle conversation for a few minutes, and he excused himself to take his son to the bathroom. I see Emily looking at me with a smirk on her face, and as soon as he's out of earshot, she said:

"Uh, Mom, that guy is TOTALLY flirting with you, in case you're not aware...and for crying out loud, do you really need ANOTHER Brian?!"

She's a smart girl, that one...

Nancy and Angel were telling the girls some of their stories about the restaurant building, which, by most accounts, is haunted. It's around a hundred years old and served as the city's first hospital, and several servers, bartenders, and other tenants of the building both past and present have reported hearing strange things, like the sound of a little girl laughing in what used to be the morgue, and a mischievous teenage boy who likes to cause trouble. They were eating it up at the table...and of course, now they're snuggled into bed with me...which, honestly, might be the perfect end to a great night. I need more like these, please! They remind me what's important, and how much I already have going for me.