The Trouble with Being Born: A Novel

Mother

80 I bought this yellow jacket and skirt outfit new. I hope I look nice. Jay and Ted say that I do. I think yellow is a pretty color for me. I like this jade necklace. Hmm hmm hmm. What is that song? Everybody loves somebody in the springtime? No, no. Hmm hmm hmm hmm. Jeff is getting married today. Lisa’s family is very nice, although I have a hard time remembering all of the sisters’ names. I wish Joe were here, although maybe it’s good that he’s not. He gets so crabby sometimes, and he doesn’t do so well in new places. And he’d probably want to leave early. I feel sorry for him, I really do. I’m going to try not to think about him too much. He’s not here. He should be, but he’s not. The young man who’s driving us is very nice, very polite. And good looking too. He told us not to worry about anything, that he’d get us there in plenty of time and that the ceremony wouldn’t start without us. He’s talking to Jay and Ted. My stomach hurts a little. I guess I’m nervous. I’m glad I went to the bathroom before I got in the car. I’m thankful Jay and Ted came with me. I don’t know what I’d do by myself. “My doctor told me that if I needed an operation, I’d be fine, because I have no fat, no fat on me at all. It’s easier to get to your insides if you don’t have all that fat to cut through, like Frances, for Mother 81 instance. Right Ted?” Albany is a pretty city, although I wish it wasn’t so cloudy today. It doesn’t feel like it’s going to rain, though. At least it’s not too hot. Look at all the people. I’ve got my purse and I’ve got my camera and lots of film. That film is so expensive, but Joe said to take a lot of pictures to show him when I returned. There’s one of Lisa’s sisters, the blond one with the new baby. Sara? I’m not sure. The baby is cute. I’ve never been to a backyard wedding before. The flowers on the tables are sure pretty. Lilies and roses. There’s Lisa’s father, the good-looking man with the eye patch. We had a nice visit last night at the rehearsal dinner . I believe his wife is fatter than I am. Where’s Jeff? There he is. He looks so handsome in his white jacket, white shirt, black pants and black bow tie. That’s a lovely jacket. It’s silk. He showed it to me yesterday. “Hi Mom. How are you?” “Fine, fine.” “Hello Aunt Jay and Uncle Ted. Thank you very much for coming.” “You’re welcome, Jeff.” “Here Mom, we have a corsage for you. Let me pin it on you.” “It’s very pretty.” “You look great Mom. You remember Lisa’s sister Stephanie, and her this is her husband John and their baby Reid.” “Yes, I’m very glad to meet you. To see you again I mean.” Stephanie, Stephanie’s the one with a baby, and Sara’s the one with the two small children. “I guess we’re ready to start.” I’m not sure where I should sit. Maybe next to Jay and Ted in the second row. “No Frances, you sit up here in the front, next to Lisa’s grandfather.” I see Lisa is wearing a black dress. That must be the fashion today. I don’t care for it. I didn’t care for their wedding invitations either. A naked man and woman looking at a sunset. I wonder whose idea that was. I guess I’m just oldfashioned . mother 82 mother There’s the justice of the peace. Joe said they should get married in a church with a priest, but we had a justice of the peace too. In Santa Barbara. On our way to Hawaii. We never got to Hawaii. Santa Barbara was pretty. I wish we could have stayed there instead of going back to Pueblo. Pueblo is a nice city and all, but I like the ocean. It might have been nice to stay...