While in bed the other night, just as we were turning off the lights and going through our move the pillows, untuck the sheets, and move so I can give you the hockey leg routine, I turned to Philip and sighed. It was a sigh of relief after a long day, the kind that eases out. “You know,” I said to him in the dark, “Norma is the best thing to ever happen to us.” Then we both kinda laughed.
We fight much less now. “Nanny” isn’t the right word, as it sounds so… twentyager demanding her own shelf in the fridge with paid vacation and weekly appointments with an aesthetician and masseuse. It’s one of those words that sounds like “personal-trainer” or “agent”. All might be necessities in one’s career, but the words never convey need and seem to scream WANT WANT WANT GET GET GET. She might be our childcare provider, technically, but genuinely, she is our lifesaver.
Upon leaving each day, she comes running up to me for a hug and kiss goodbye. Even my mother-in-law, when she came here, said, “You two love her so much, it’s as if you love her more than me!” While I do, indeed love my mother-in-law, we love Norma like family, and we feel very lucky.
The other day, for her birthday, we got a Boston Cream cake, her name in icing, sparkler candles. We snapped party hats on ourselves and on the beans. We came out singing, and she began to cry. I love that she’s part of my life.
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We wanted to invite her and her family over for dinner, but I was hesitant… mostly because when you work all week the very LAST thing you want to do is spend time with your boss during your free time. Even when bosses think they’re being thoughtful, inviting you to that weekend bbq at their house, etc. It’s always kinda torture, and you wonder how long you have to stay. As much as I love her and want to get to know her family, I didn’t want to put her through the hell of obligations.
But when Phil mentioned it, she lit up, and said she couldn’t wait, that she talks about the ninos all the time, and that her husband and son just look at her and laugh. “I want so much for them to know you all as I do.” We are blessed.
Tonight we’re having the perfect summer dinner. Filet Mignon, lobster tails, grilled asparagus, corn on the cob, garlic bread. Strawberry shortcake, fresh watermelon, chocolate chip cookies with vanilla swiss almond ice cream. I’m also making celery root puree because the taters love it. A vanilla bean drawn butter for the lobster. I love days like today, family days, with the smell of charcoal, the sunset, wiffle ball, and cold white wine. Toasts to life, raised glasses, smiles and ¡Salud!
