Making Space
Mar. 11th, 2004 02:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
talktoolooseOur week in Florida had some real highs and lows.
It was really good to see my parents at the beginning and Snake and I were feeling more relaxed with them than we have in the past, speaking as four adults with very little parent-child bullshit clouding the waters. When Snake and I went for a big walk on the second day and my mother, worrying about how long we were taking to get home, drove down to the beach road to find us, I didn't react as I would have ten years ago -- freaking out that she was trying to control us. Instead, I found it endearing and I reflected on this little elderly woman and how much she loved me.
This state of ideal understanding didn't last.
By the end, we were climbing the walls as she tried to modify our every plan with cheery, passive-aggresive whining and nagging. My father, for his part, reverted to childishness on several occassions, the worst being when he sat down with us to watch Cowboy Bebop, the Movie and then started ranting that we couldn't possibly be interested in something that peurile. And he just wouldn't let it go! He couldn't accept that he wasn't getting the post-modern international vibe of the show, he couldn't accept that the movie made more sense in context of the series -- he was stuck with the idea that if he doesn't like something, it is impossible that we could.
(As it happens, CB the Movie was like an extended, fairly mediocre episode of the series but not, by any means, a dog.)
On top of increasing friction with my parents, Snake made us wrestle daily with Toronto District School Board woes. And you're lucky, I don't feel like talking about it.
But, the two of us had wonderful times battling the surf at the beach, cozy hours and good food and discussing puppy training. Snake bought me a pair of Birkenstock sandals as my birthday present and on the actual day, we headed down to Everglades National Park (the 3rd largest in the US after Yellowstone and Death Valley) and had a fascinating, calming and inspiring day in this unique landscape. We took a two-hour boat ride led by a naturalist and walked many interpretive trails. The battle lines are being drawn in Florida between those who understand the importance of 'Glades and those who want to feed the shark-like hunger of developers.
It should be noted that when I announced our intention to go down there (a three hour drive south from my parent's place) my mother mounted a campaign of military, or perhaps Republican scale to have us go on a less remote trip. "There are some lovely airboat rides through the glades just an hour from here!" she said excitedly, handing me phone numbers for Billies (sic) Swamp Adventure and Florida Gator Mania.
*sigh*
It was really good to see my parents at the beginning and Snake and I were feeling more relaxed with them than we have in the past, speaking as four adults with very little parent-child bullshit clouding the waters. When Snake and I went for a big walk on the second day and my mother, worrying about how long we were taking to get home, drove down to the beach road to find us, I didn't react as I would have ten years ago -- freaking out that she was trying to control us. Instead, I found it endearing and I reflected on this little elderly woman and how much she loved me.
This state of ideal understanding didn't last.
By the end, we were climbing the walls as she tried to modify our every plan with cheery, passive-aggresive whining and nagging. My father, for his part, reverted to childishness on several occassions, the worst being when he sat down with us to watch Cowboy Bebop, the Movie and then started ranting that we couldn't possibly be interested in something that peurile. And he just wouldn't let it go! He couldn't accept that he wasn't getting the post-modern international vibe of the show, he couldn't accept that the movie made more sense in context of the series -- he was stuck with the idea that if he doesn't like something, it is impossible that we could.
(As it happens, CB the Movie was like an extended, fairly mediocre episode of the series but not, by any means, a dog.)
On top of increasing friction with my parents, Snake made us wrestle daily with Toronto District School Board woes. And you're lucky, I don't feel like talking about it.
But, the two of us had wonderful times battling the surf at the beach, cozy hours and good food and discussing puppy training. Snake bought me a pair of Birkenstock sandals as my birthday present and on the actual day, we headed down to Everglades National Park (the 3rd largest in the US after Yellowstone and Death Valley) and had a fascinating, calming and inspiring day in this unique landscape. We took a two-hour boat ride led by a naturalist and walked many interpretive trails. The battle lines are being drawn in Florida between those who understand the importance of 'Glades and those who want to feed the shark-like hunger of developers.
It should be noted that when I announced our intention to go down there (a three hour drive south from my parent's place) my mother mounted a campaign of military, or perhaps Republican scale to have us go on a less remote trip. "There are some lovely airboat rides through the glades just an hour from here!" she said excitedly, handing me phone numbers for Billies (sic) Swamp Adventure and Florida Gator Mania.
*sigh*
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no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 01:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-03-11 07:14 pm (UTC)You didn't want to experience Florida Gator Mania? Why not? ;-P
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Date: 2004-03-12 09:02 am (UTC)My mom is really a sweet and good person. But, like my father, she knows in her heart that if only everyone did everything exactly as she does, they would be safer and happier.