Christmas Traditions.
My father and I have one.
Since I was 7 years old he and I would go Christmas shopping for my mother's gifts then he'd take me out to dinner.
My dad was and is a very "Blue Collar" kind of guy, rarely shows emotion and though he was very involved in my brother's life I think that he just didn't know what to do with daughters so I felt left out at times.
He's a good man just a little distant.
Well our time together has always been special to me.
HOWEVER as I got older and the dinners got more elaborate my mother started horning in on our time together.
She now goes shopping with us.
She leaves Dad and I to do our shopping while she goes off and does her own thing and then goes to dinner with us.
It's not as fun but it's a free meal, right?
Last night we went to the mall.
The preparations were tedious.
I received a detailed list of items that she wanted.
She included a map of the store and marked where the items were located.
My father was given 2 coupons and a Macy's credit card in my Mother's name and explained something about my Dad could, after using the card, use his SS card to pay at macy's.
We had to check twice that my Dad had the card and the coupons.
We loaded ourselves into the car and made the 30 minute trip to the mall.
They argued the entire way there.
My Dad constantly complained about the traffic.
We found a parking space about 1/2 mile from the mall.
Within the first five minutes in Macy's they argued over who had the credit cards and where the coupons were located.
My Mom suspected they were on the kitchen table.
Then there was some difficulty using the card, we found it in my Dad's pocket, because it's in my Mother's name and then they knocked over and entire display of lipsticks at the Estee Lauder counter.
I sat and laughed the entire time.
I guess it's not so bad if my Mom comes along!