Today our little Madgette turns 6 years old!
I can hardly believe it. It seems like just yesterday her mother and I were Kindergartners, terrorizing Franklin Lower Elementary. We were monsters, to put it nicely. MONSTERS. Every now and then, I find myself shocked at how much Madgette reminds me of our childhood. Sometimes it just in her smile or way she says things that reminds me of her mother -- they look NOTHING a like -- but they are so similar personalitywise that sometimes being with Madgette is like traveling back in time.
Last week, Madgette gave her mother what I like to call "the look." It only lasted about two seconds, but it definitely was "the look." If you have ever met Madge you know what the look is. She invented it. It's this smile she gets when she squints her eyes and wrinkles her nose slightly. "The look" is reserved for moments when Madge simply cannot believe how stupid you are being. It's her way of silently saying: YOU ARE SUCH A DUMBASS, DARLING. She's given this look for the entire 25 years I've known her. I'm pretty sure she was born with it.
Often I have commented on how much Madgette reminds me of her mother. Sometimes Madgette and I literally play together the way her mother and I did as children. Madgette -- like her mother -- is one of my most favorite people in the world. She has this attitude about her that just says: I AM CONFIDENT. I AM FUNNY, SMART AND AWESOME. YOU WANT TO BE MY BEST FRIEND. WE MIGHT GET INTO TROUBLE IF YOU HANG OUT WITH ME, BUT I PROMISE IT WILL BE SOOOO WORTH IT. And you know what? It is sooooo worth it. I should know, she and I have gotten in trouble together. (For screaming, laughing, wrestling and jumping on the bed, in case you were wondering. I maintain Madge only fussed at us because she was jealous.)
Well, last weekend, as Madge and I sewed away, something Madge said rolled over Madgette wrong. It was something innoculous and so unimportant I can't recall what it was. Oh, but I swear you would have thought Madge had just tried to tell Madgette that the SKY IS NOT BLUE, and that child would have NONE of it. Instead of arguing, though -- which is usual way of settling things -- Madgette just shot her "the look." And she held it on her mother for two long seconds. Which was exactly the amount of time it took for me to loose my shit laughing. Not just a giggle mind you. I was laughing from the pits of my stomach -- it was a soul shaking laugh and there was nothing I could to stop it.
After I lost it, Madge found herself dangerously close to losing is too. She had recognized "the look" for what was -- her daughter calling her a DUMBASS. But since Madge was on the verge of laughing, it was difficult to hand down appropriate punishment. So Madge -- and this is why I LOVE her and think she ROCKS as a mother -- said in a very calm voice: "Listen to me, Madgette. Don't ever look at me like when we are outside of this house. That's a look you don't ever use in public with me. Do you understand?" And Madgette, not believing her incredible luck, knodded 'yes' then ran off to play. Madge turned back to me and her sewing and said: "You know how you always say that some times its like you are six years old and I you are playing together all over again?" And I was all: "DUH." And Madge said: "For the first time, I know what you mean. She just gave me 'the look' -- MY LOOK -- and she couldn't have done it more naturally or perfect if she tried."
Madgette: We are so happy you are part of our family. You are such a sassy, fireball of a young lady and its been our please watching you grow up. We can't wait to watch you grow and celebrate more and more birthdays. And one day, I have SO MANY stories to tell you about your mother. Stories that are filed under the heading: THE LOOK.
I can hardly believe it. It seems like just yesterday her mother and I were Kindergartners, terrorizing Franklin Lower Elementary. We were monsters, to put it nicely. MONSTERS. Every now and then, I find myself shocked at how much Madgette reminds me of our childhood. Sometimes it just in her smile or way she says things that reminds me of her mother -- they look NOTHING a like -- but they are so similar personalitywise that sometimes being with Madgette is like traveling back in time.
Last week, Madgette gave her mother what I like to call "the look." It only lasted about two seconds, but it definitely was "the look." If you have ever met Madge you know what the look is. She invented it. It's this smile she gets when she squints her eyes and wrinkles her nose slightly. "The look" is reserved for moments when Madge simply cannot believe how stupid you are being. It's her way of silently saying: YOU ARE SUCH A DUMBASS, DARLING. She's given this look for the entire 25 years I've known her. I'm pretty sure she was born with it.
Often I have commented on how much Madgette reminds me of her mother. Sometimes Madgette and I literally play together the way her mother and I did as children. Madgette -- like her mother -- is one of my most favorite people in the world. She has this attitude about her that just says: I AM CONFIDENT. I AM FUNNY, SMART AND AWESOME. YOU WANT TO BE MY BEST FRIEND. WE MIGHT GET INTO TROUBLE IF YOU HANG OUT WITH ME, BUT I PROMISE IT WILL BE SOOOO WORTH IT. And you know what? It is sooooo worth it. I should know, she and I have gotten in trouble together. (For screaming, laughing, wrestling and jumping on the bed, in case you were wondering. I maintain Madge only fussed at us because she was jealous.)
Well, last weekend, as Madge and I sewed away, something Madge said rolled over Madgette wrong. It was something innoculous and so unimportant I can't recall what it was. Oh, but I swear you would have thought Madge had just tried to tell Madgette that the SKY IS NOT BLUE, and that child would have NONE of it. Instead of arguing, though -- which is usual way of settling things -- Madgette just shot her "the look." And she held it on her mother for two long seconds. Which was exactly the amount of time it took for me to loose my shit laughing. Not just a giggle mind you. I was laughing from the pits of my stomach -- it was a soul shaking laugh and there was nothing I could to stop it.
After I lost it, Madge found herself dangerously close to losing is too. She had recognized "the look" for what was -- her daughter calling her a DUMBASS. But since Madge was on the verge of laughing, it was difficult to hand down appropriate punishment. So Madge -- and this is why I LOVE her and think she ROCKS as a mother -- said in a very calm voice: "Listen to me, Madgette. Don't ever look at me like when we are outside of this house. That's a look you don't ever use in public with me. Do you understand?" And Madgette, not believing her incredible luck, knodded 'yes' then ran off to play. Madge turned back to me and her sewing and said: "You know how you always say that some times its like you are six years old and I you are playing together all over again?" And I was all: "DUH." And Madge said: "For the first time, I know what you mean. She just gave me 'the look' -- MY LOOK -- and she couldn't have done it more naturally or perfect if she tried."
Madgette: We are so happy you are part of our family. You are such a sassy, fireball of a young lady and its been our please watching you grow up. We can't wait to watch you grow and celebrate more and more birthdays. And one day, I have SO MANY stories to tell you about your mother. Stories that are filed under the heading: THE LOOK.
1 comments:
oh how true this story is!!!
I cannot tell a lie about this. I am still seeing that look that she gave me and it makes me smile every time. Now I know she got something from me!
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