Years ago, my mother tried to get me to join AAUW [American Association of University Women]. I went to one meeting, at the home of someone who lived down a small road, and nearly got lost. Nearly wrecked the car. Had to park a mile away and walk. At night. In the dark. By myself.
Then when I got there, all the women knew each other and nobody was very welcoming to me.They discussed some weird book I'd never heard of.
I had a college degree. I could discuss books intelligently.
I hated going places by myself, at night, however. I particularly hate finding anyone's home, at night, in the car.
Needless to say, I didn't join AAUW. I just didn't think it was worth it.
As I've gotten older, I've decided I really just don't like going out at night. Not unless it's a place I know very well, near home.I get very anxious driving at night - more so if it's raining.
Last night, as Michael and I left a play, I was remimnded of all the reasons I hate going out at night. It was dark. It was raining. We were in midtown.
The good thing was that Michael was driving.
[The play, BTW, was The Book Club Play at the Horizon Theatre - really cute play. Very funny.]
I had pointed out when we were headed to the theatre that the large, full-service Krispy Kreme place was just a mile or two from the theatre, and we could get a doughnut afterwards.
So we left the theater in the rain and headed over there. Normally it would take 5 minutes to get there. It took more than twenty minutes. There was a car stopped on Ponce, with the light on to turn left. It just SAT THERE for like 15 minutes. Cars were rushing by us. We couldn't get around the idiot. Finally, the car just moved on off, out of the way. Probably re-thought that late night drinky poo in light of the complete lack of parking around the restaurant. I don't know. I just know I needed a doughnut after that. I was half hysterical.
Michael? The driver? Calm as a cucumber.He was chuckling about it later when we were in line, waiting for doughnuts. "You would've FREAKED OUT, Mom. I didn't," he teased me.
"Well good. From now on, you're my driver for all night excursions," I replied.
See this guy in the photos? That's my Uncle Don, Mom's brother.
Nothing phases him. I've never seen him not calm. I've never seen him excited about anything. Nothing ruffles his feathers. He is as slow and deliberate and methodical as a human being can be. He is a retired college administrator. The radio could announce a nuclear attack was imminent and his only remark would likely be something like "Jane, do we have any iced tea? Let's find a nice chair where we can sit and watch all the commotion."
Michael is just.like.Don. They are not related biologically. They haven't spent that much time together. They are two peas in a pod, however.
It amuses Mother and me no end.
