turning the tables

While my sisters and I were growing up, Mom was busy documenting it in the local newspaper in the form of a weekly column. I guess you could say she is one of the original "mommy bloggers".

You could also say she is the queen of skin and haircare products.

A couple of months ago, her obsession actually led her into temporary insanity when she ordered some beauty cream off of an infomercial. When she realized that they charged her credit card again one month later, she called to find out why the charges were made. They described to her that the complete beauty process entailed several steps and that her next phase would be arriving the in the mail shortly. Sanity was reclaimed at that moment and she politely told the woman on the other end of the phone to please cancel the rest of the order and that she "didn't have time to be that beautiful."

A couple of weeks ago, I stood with my sister at her house trying to sort through the numerous bottles of lotions and gels Mom had packed in her suitcase when she came to Chicago for the weekend. On the way, she had checked her bag so the lotions and such were not an issue since she handed her bag over before going through security. On the way back, she had decided to carry it on. She and Sarah left for the airport, and I said a little prayer that security wouldn't detain her for being over the ounce limit for Aloe Vera.

So, today, Mom, on the occasion of your fifty-seventh birthday, I want to let you know that no matter how old you get (not that fifty-seven is old!), your teachings of the importance of skin and hair care have apparently already had an effect on your first grand-daughter.


Maybe you could try to steer her away from diaper cream, though. Happy Birthday!