(Big Mama’s beloved 1998 Dodge Stratus ES. Photo Brown Motors.)

Editor’s note: I could barrage you with two stories this morning, but instead will uncharacteristically refrain. What follows is the latest chapter of the continuing adventure of the latest visit to Raven and Big Mama, residents of the Little Village By the Bay, and the travails of the Socotra Sandwich generation, pressed between the Wonder bread slices of children and elderly.

There are eight napkins of conversation with my pal Mac to transcribe, and travel today. This is all Annook, and all hail to her.

Vic

Annook bid a fond adieu to her terrific husband. Husband drove off to get to Chicago where he would get rid of the rental car and jump on a plane to Anchorage, Alaska. Annook thinks husband put at least 3,000 miles on the rental car over the past 10 days.

Husband helped bag endless closet items, got Big Mama’s green car up and running, and added an extender unit to the outside water faucet so anyone might be able to find the garden hose for the front yard. There are several major bushes and plants prohibiting anyone from getting near to the outside house wall.

Husband was still kicking himself for turning off the basketball playoffs before the Mavericks came back and won. Husband had recently acquired the attitude what the Michigan fans have gotten used to – defeat before being defeated.

Annook had called Big Mama in the morning. Big Mama sounded awful from her recently acquired cold. Annook called Potemkin Village and asked if someone could go and give Big Mama an over-the-counter cold pill Annook had left the day before. Annook would be picking Big Mama up that afternoon for a date with the gals. At what they call “Coterie.”

The group has met for decades at the Perry Hotel lounge on Friday afternoons to have coffee, popcorn and gossip.

Many of the Coterie have passed, or moved on to other Friday events. Today would bring at least 10 to the lounge for coffee, popcorn and gossip.

At the compound, the house main floor quarters and baths were now freshly painted. Now it was up to the carpenters to lay the new wood floor in the kitchen, the new stone floor in the laundry room, and replace the sinks and install marble counter tops. The cabinets were getting painted white with new door and drawer faces installed.

Annook was nervous driving Big Mama’s green car over to Potemkin Village. Big Mama was crazy mad when her beloved children told her she couldn’t drive anymore and hid the car from her including unplugging the battery and allowing a tire to be flat.

Crazy mad. Full Big Mama mad.  Rather not see Big Mama when she is bully mode.

“I have a driver’s license.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“I’ll get an attorney.”

“Go for it.”

“I’ll just go buy a new car. I have excellent credit.”

“Good luck.”

“I have a right to drive.”

“Driving is a privilege, not a right.”

“Ridiculous.”

Annook went upstairs to get Big Mama and take her to Coterie. The apartment stank. Raven was passed out on the sofa and Big Mama was in the same clothes she wore for the last three days.

“Big Mama – I told you you had to change your clothes. I told you you had to have a shower. I told you you had to brush your teeth.”

“Where did the day go?”

“Big Mama – let’s go get another outfit on.”

“No, no – this is fine.”

Annook had made an appointment the day before with the Friendship Center to put Mom on the weekly forced shower list. The Center told Annook she had to do an interview and create a needs file on Big Mama. They told her she could do that this upcoming week.

Annook sighed. They were late and she took Big Mama “as is” and went out to the parking lot. The minute Big Mama got out the front door she cried –

“My car! My car! My beautiful car!”

“Yes, Big Mama. It is your car.”

“Is it really? Is it really my car?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Your brother lied to me. He said the car was hidden and the wheels were off.”

“He didn’t lie to you. The car was hidden from you. The car was also made inoperative.”

“Oh. He didn’t lie.”

“No, he did not.”

“My car!”

“Your car.”

“You’re finally giving me back my car!”

“No, I’m finally allowing you to see your car and to allow you to be driven in your car.”

“You’re not giving it back to me?”

“No.”

“This was part of my plan. I knew if I could get you alone, you would get me my car and I could prove to you I could still drive it.”

“That is a good plan, but you will not be able to drive. We fixed the car so visiting family could drive you around Petoskey.”

“Well, that makes sense.’

“Yes, it does.”

“I haven’t driven in a year.”

“I know.”

“It makes me nervous. Maybe I don’t know how anymore.”

“It makes us nervous.”

“My car!”

“Yes, Big Mama.”

“How I’ve missed you, car. Did I have a name for it?”

“I think you did – but I don’t remember it. Raven’s car was Annabell – I don’t remember what you called yours.”

“Hi car. Beautiful car. Did you miss me?”

Coterie went well. Annook was happy to see all the old dear friends of her mother. Big Mama really couldn’t hear very well and she couldn’t really remember all the stories from the trip – but they embraced her in their warmth and loyalty.

When it was done, Annook took Big Mama back outside to the car. They had to get back and relieve the babysitter Annook had watching the sleeping Raven.

“My car!”

Copyright Annook Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com