Forced Home for Christmas
All year we have planned to spend the Christmas holiday here in Georgia rather than make our annual trip to Vermont to be with my parents and family. For 11 months I’ve stuck to my guns, shrugged off the guilt, remained determined for Santa to visit Aaron in our own home. Even if I changed my mind and wanted to go to Vermont, I couldn’t possibly admit it. Nope, not this pride-filled daughter. I said NO and I meant NO.
Something happened yesterday that has completely changed the scenario. Do you remember a post from a few days ago, Mom and the Prick Doctor, where I sent out a plea to my mother’s acupuncturist and asked him to focus on helping with her memory problems instead of her knee? I’ve been worried about both her short-term and long term-memory for a while, but something happened yesterday that shed light on just how serious the problem is. Her prick doctor left a comment here and not only did it confirm my worries, it amplified them.
As for your request, I would not find it at all unethical or unscrupulous to answer your plea for help if your mother was in fact… a patient of mine. Donna has shown up on occasion in pajamas at my place of residence, demanding treatment for different ailments with Acupuncture yes, but I think any health-care professional would find it unprofessional to give said treatment to anyone on their front lawn at 4am:)

I’m terribly relieved to learn that Mom is at least remembering to wear her pajamas, but really—this is serious.
She may require medication, or a doctor with bigger needles. My parents live in a small town. How is my father going to explain when his wife is arrested for stalking the Prick Doctor? Can you imagine the humiliation? Will the local folk think Dad is inadequate and that’s why Mom is so interested in the good doctor’s needles? Oh, I can just hear the rumors now!
We’ve already established that I am The Favorite Child, and with the title comes a certain amount of daunting responsibility. What’s a dedicated and loving daughter supposed to do in a situation like this? Well, first I obviously need to confer with the Prick Doctor myself and put together an intervention plan. Second, I need to grease the palms of the local sheriff in case he starts to notice Mom’s 4 a.m. escapades. These are things that can only happen in person.
Yes, I obviously need to go home and evaluate things for myself, take things into my own hands. Unfortunately, I can’t get away just now. It’ll be a few weeks until I can get to Vermont. My schedule is full of commitments until, well, the week of Christmas.
If you also think life's too short to be quiet, you can subscribe for your daily dose of Shout here.










Comment by Amy on 20 November 2008:
HeHeHe!!! Have fun in Vermont!!! Family is good during the holidays! Besides it is becoming tradition to travel to VT each year! You will love it!!!
Amys last blog post..Wordless (Wordful) Wednesday - Fireworks
Comment by Jan on 20 November 2008:
LOL - all you needed was an excuse, isn’t it?
I’m a little bummed out about Christmas this year; it will be the first time in 10 years we won’t have all of the kids here.
Jans last blog post..Thanksgiving Thursday: Pumpkin Pie
Comment by thistle on 20 November 2008:
Chriatmas in Vermont…isn’t there a movie by that name?…it sounds lovely anyhow, and your little guy probably won’t mind where it is….more time with grandparents is always fun too…
thistles last blog post..I Can Handle a Little Housekeeping But Not Much More…
Comment by WickedStepMom on 20 November 2008:
Have a good trip! I know that you will be happy that you went.
WickedStepMoms last blog post..Where the heck is that other shoe anyway?
Comment by donna on 20 November 2008:
Isn’t it amazing what I will do to get you to come home for the holidays. And to think that I got My “Prick Dr.” to go along with it. You just think that you are the favrite daughter.
I will do anything t see my favorite grandson, and you fell for it.
You can’t change your mind now or there is no telling what I will do next and who I will get to go along with it. Maybe my shrink.
Oh and by the way, that is so not a picture of me. You have me with the same color slippers, any one who relly knows me knows that I wear two different colored slippers because your dog ate one my other ones and burried the other one in the yard. I am to poor to buy new ones and you wouldn’t. And the curler thing, well that just isn’t true my hair curls natural and I happen to like the peaks that I get with all the hair products that I use. Do you know how many they make now? WOW
Stop posting pictures of your poor deffensless grandmother for every one to see.
XOXOX
Comment by gary on 20 November 2008:
Oh goodness! Ii hope she will be alright, and it is wonderful you will help out.
I, um, know what your mother is getting from you, and I bet it arrives there today….
garys last blog post..GORILLA Pottery advertising
Comment by gary on 20 November 2008:
(no, I take that back–UPS tells me it was delivered at 11 yesterday am!)
garys last blog post..GORILLA Pottery advertising
Comment by goodfather on 20 November 2008:
It’s going to be a white Christmas, at least, right?
The graphic is hilarious!
goodfathers last blog post..NaNoBloMo: The nature of the beast
Comment by HeatherPride on 20 November 2008:
Oh, where to spend the holidays is such a contentious subject in my house!! Once my husband and I got in such a huge fight over it we didn’t talk for days. Eeek. In fact, Thanksgiving is in a week and we still haven’t talked about it. (I know…)
HeatherPrides last blog post..Whaddya Mean It’s Not Friday?? (Complete with a public service announcement!)
Comment by MamaGeek on 20 November 2008:
From where I sit, Christmas in Vermont sounds so enchanting!
Oh the holidaze!
MamaGeeks last blog post..Word To The Bird.
Comment by Tricia on 20 November 2008:
Amy: It will be strange to be in VT for Christmas and for you not to be there!
Jan: NO! I swear I wasn’t looking for an excuse to cave. Really, I’m worried about her. Did you see her comment below? Obviously she’s deranged. Can your children be bribed, bought. What will it take, just let me know and I’ll get right on it. No bah humbugs for you.
Thistle: I do think there’s a movie by the same name. Aaron loves his grandparents, that’s for sure! He’s already on a countdown.
WickedStepMom: Thanks. It’ll be fun.
Donna: What! You mean this is all about getting your grandson to VT for Christmas? I hope you’re ashamed of yourself. Your poor Prick Doc. He’s an honorable health-care professional and here you are trying to say that he’s up to no good and allowing himself to be used by you. I don’t believe it for a minute. I didn’t want to mention it in such a public forum, but I have already talked to your shrink and she’s also worried, very worried. Obviously here you are, completely out of your mind, everyone knows my dogs are perfect and would never eat someone’s slippers. You just forgot where you put the other one and now you’re trying to blame it on my canine buddies. Tisk, tisk. You’re sooooo lucky Grammy doesn’t read the blog. She’s wash your mouth out with soap for trying to pass pictures of yourself off as her.
Gary: Sush. It was supposed to be a surprise!
Godfather: There had better be snow, that’s all I’m saying
HeatherPride: Just invite everyone to your house…both sides of the family. Heck my husband’s ex wife is coming to our house for Thanksgiving. Yes, I know it’s weird.
MamaGeek. Holidaze is right.
Comment by donna on 20 November 2008:
Jan : you said it all she really needed was an excuse to come to VT.
Can you belive all the stuff she said about me.:-)
Mamma Geek: Christmas in Vt is enchanting to say the least.
We love it and so does Tricia.
Tricia, Tricia, Tricia,:You haven’t met Lou “yet”. And I did see the dogs with thoese slippers. It is all about getting Aaron to VT. for Christmas. Get real, Haven’t you figured it out yet!
He wants to dance in the snow. And as a good WaWa should, he and I conspired and cooked this up. Now what does that say about you.
You know that old saying that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, well baby you need to take a good long look in the mirror, you are creeping up there in agg and it won’t be long now before you can say and do the things that I do and GET AWAY WITH IT.
lots of fun
OXOXO
Comment by Midlife Slices on 20 November 2008:
I love the comments from Mom. LOL You are so busted, girlfriend. LOL
Midlife Slicess last blog post..A Cold Day In Hell?
Comment by thatcoolbroad on 20 November 2008:
This is better than TV. I’m hooked:)
Comment by patois on 20 November 2008:
There is never any need to watch a sitcom anymore. I just need to come read this.
patoiss last blog post..Name That Stripper
Comment by Hilary on 21 November 2008:
Too cute. And very sweet. Is this blog post how your Mom found out that you’re going home for the holidays?
Hilarys last blog post..As Autumn Fades
Comment by donna on 21 November 2008:
Hilary: No this is not how I found out they are comming home for the holidays. Aaron called me one evening and asked me if they could come to my house for christmas. He said that he wanted to dance in the snow.
Comment by Tricia on 21 November 2008:
Um…has anyone else noticed that my mom is taking over my blog?
Comment by donna on 21 November 2008:
I thought that this was our blog now. Didn’t you say that or was i imagineing that to.
Comment by donna on 21 November 2008:
OOOPPS!!!
XOXOX
Comment by Smart Mouth Broad on 21 November 2008:
Good grief, missy, do you think you should wait til Christmas! Donna sounds like she needs your good sense and guidance pronto! LOL
Smart Mouth Broads last blog post..SMART MOUTH CORNBREAD (Spoon Bread)
Comment by Twenty Four At Heart on 21 November 2008:
I have the maturity of a 10 year old. Yes, I do. So I’m going to sit around laughing about Prick Doctor all day long. There’s an acupuncturist at PT, but I’ve never gone to him. Now I have a nickname for him - thank you very much. Snicker. Snicker.
Comment by Sammanthia on 21 November 2008:
I hope things work out with your mom and that she’s okay. I’m thinking of you!
I don’t want to go back, either, but I’m waiting until next year to put my foot down. I think it’ll take that long for them to let it sink in that we’re not going back for Christmas!
Comment by Captain Dumbass on 22 November 2008:
Ah mothers… My mother has begun stalking my cyber friends. It’s like a high tech version of high school.
Captain Dumbasss last blog post..Friday Pics: A Week In Food
Comment by Lori on 23 November 2008:
Christmas in Vermont…sounds very nice to me…can I come too? “Prick Doctor”…love it! I think your mom sounds pretty awesome…I think she should start a blog of her own.
Loris last blog post..Every Day was a Manic Monday
Comment by Brandygirl on 23 November 2008:
I’ve never been to Vermont. I’ll let you know 10minutes before I come. Remember to have lip gloss nearby.:)
You and your mum are hilarious.
Brandygirls last blog post..RIP, little angel.
Comment by Foghorn Leghorn on 23 November 2008:
I have read your blog for the first time. I am beside myself. I thought I was the only one who knew your mother wore two different colored slippers. She stayed at my house one night and I saw her walking down the hall with THOSE slippers. I did not sleep all night. My husband still has bad dreams. As far as her memory goes, she does remember her wines, I only wish she remembered where the bathroom is. I must say as the wine flows she can run with the big girls, unlike some people I know. But at least you make it to the bathroom. XOXO
Comment by Tricia on 24 November 2008:
Foghorn Leghorn: I’m so glad you stopped by! I’m sorry my mom frightened you and your husband with THOSE slippers, but I certainly understand. When she’s visiting my house, I hardly sleep either. And about keeping up with the big girls, ummm, I’ve been practicing and I want a rematch!
Comment by movin' down the road on 24 November 2008:
fun fun. Prick Doctor. That has me rolling…I hope your mom gets the help she needs. AND I love Vermont at Christmas. I used to live in Woodstock!
movin’ down the roads last blog post..Seven Days of sick
Comment by Kit on 24 November 2008:
Tricia,
I never believed (never will either) that you wouldn’t go to Vermont for Christmas!
Who did you think you were kidding?
xoxoxo
Comment by donna on 25 November 2008:
Thanks Kit
Comment by Nora Bee on 25 November 2008:
Well, at least Vermont at Christmas is lovely….?
Nora Bees last blog post..The breathing break
Comment by Diana Rupert on 26 November 2008:
Good luck and hope you enjoy your Christmas. Celebrating the Christmas with your family is good. Isn’t it?
Diana Ruperts last blog post..Why Buy Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-111FD?
Comment by Natural on 28 November 2008:
dropped in from wat da what or what the what or who did what to who, well chris’s blog….like what I’m reading so far.
Georgia may be my retirement state, have family from there (la grange).
wow, sorry to hear about your mom, that is serious, but she was dressed. someone recommended i get acupuncture. if it’s that great, i might do the same thing. right now i just stalk my chiropractor.
Naturals last blog post..Being Human In the Age of the Electronic Mob
Comment by Jen on 3 December 2008:
You guys are too funny! I’m glad you’re going home though.
Jens last blog post..Well hello!
Pingback by Birthday Wishes and Mishaps | Shout on 8 December 2008:
[...] been awhile since I’ve updated you on my mother’s precarious memory condition and her association with the Prick Doctor, but since it is her birthday, I won’t waddle in the fact that she actually showed up at the [...]