Dear Old Mom

My Mom is always hard to shop for at Mother's Day. Practical people always kind of are. They don't want you to waste money, so the standbys of flowers or brunch don't work ("Why go out to eat, when I can make us a nice breakfast here?" Um. Because you cooking kind of defeats the purpose?) And forget mani-pedis or spa treatments. And definitely nothing to sit around the house - they're downsizing. I fall back on jewelry a lot (she just got her ears pierced for the first time a couple of years ago), but I feel bad always doing the same thing.

This year, I heard of a new bluegrass singer that has the kind of high, pure voice that Mom likes. The CD came out on Tuesday, but through the miracle of internet shopping, I'll have it for Sunday (Thanks, Amazon!!). So basically, I'm off the hook. But not quite.

Mom had bought a knitting kit for a table runner, and asked me to knit it up for her - whenever I have time, no rush. Which basically means she's told me what she wants for Mother's Day. The only problem is that whenever Mom picks out something for me to knit for her, it's always something that starts out as a big square in garter stitch (shawls, purses, scarves). This is, bar none, the most boring knitting that you can do. Knit to the end, turn, knit to the other end. Yawn. And you can only do this for so long before you start to go a little nuts. I've been working on the runner off and on for a week (in my defense, she only gave it to me 2 and a half weeks ago - actually, that's not much of a defense is it?), and I'm only a foot into what should be about 3.5 feet. The only way I could possibly finish it, is if I lock myself in a closet with no distractions all day on Saturday. Oh, I could keep going the way I am and have it for her by the end of the month, no problem. But then it wouldn't be Mother's Day would it?

I don't think I'll finish it in time. I just don't have that kind of stamina. So, it's just going to be the CD, and if I work it right, maybe a big trip to Luby's for lunch (mmm-mmm-mm). I think my out is that I can give it to Mom when we go up for my cousins wedding, if I finish it in the car on the way up. Never underestimate the value of showing sisters "Oh, look what my daughter just made for me!"