Rats. My secret shopping plan was crushed today.
How could I have known that the contempt the man of the house has for the Patriots was such that he would not even be interested in sitting through today’s first game? And that he would instead insist upon a family trip to a health club 90 minutes away where he needed to pick up a sample tennis racket for use in a match tomorrow? Because, if we are going to spend that much money (Really? How much? Are we really going to?) on a new racket, don’t you think we should at least be certain it’s the right one for him? Of course, darling.
And of course the trip involved a crabby baby (only toward the end). It also involved one grown up person hanging around in a health club looking at tennis rackets while the other grown up person stayed behind in the van with 8 kids where she found herself saying things like “No more saying ‘tushy’!” which elicited hoots and howls from her pint-sized passengers.
The trip also included the requisite stop at McDonald’s for the dollar menu all around, except I had a salad and have you ever noticed how weird McDonald’s produce is? Wilted, squishy, and anemic? Am I the only one? Then the trip included a potty break and a stop at the airport to watch the planes take off.
And finally the trip included a very grateful me as our loaded van sped home along the highway. Because I am crazy. And because I happen to think it’s awfully nice that a man who could have taken a quiet solo trip to the health club opted instead to invite his whole wild family just because he doesn’t like to be away from us.
And now that we are home, I am grateful for the second football game which is currently occupying the troops. If I can’t be shopping, at least I can get some writing done. Even if my gofer duties do keep me busy.
