Pictures

My mom is always pretty good at getting the house ready for company. Before my family arrived for an extended stay with them she went all out preparing for our arrival. She bought new blankets and sheets, decorated with monkeys and Thomas the train, for Maxfield’s bed. I arranged to have my brother (thanks Jim and Shannon) drop off a Pack N Play for Wyatt, which my mom had set up all nice and cozy. Even the room Lauren and I were staying in was set up as a nice little shrine to me. Our room was adorned with pictures of me, Lauren and the kids as well as old playbills from some of my past theater performances. My mom even had Superman coasters in the room.

I know it must be difficult for my mom, but she remembered to bring out, dust off and display all the past gifts we have given her. Such as pillows and a table runner that Lauren made for her. She made it appear as though those gifts are always on display in her house, although most likely they were tucked away in the family room closet under an old Monopoly game and a Boggle box that is surely missing some letters.

But with all the perfection of the house, which was geared for my family my mom goofed.

You see, as you walk into my parent’s house, through the front door, immediately on the left is a wall of 8 x 10’s of all of her grandkids. There are 22 pictures hanging on that wall from where the front door opens to the start of the hallway. Those pictures, I am sure, are my mom’s pride and joy (those pictures and the one 8 x 10 of her only son-in-law, Tony who has a special spot in the house). But where my mom goofed, was the arrangement of the pictures. Their front door opens into the house to the left. When the door is left open some of those pictures get covered up. Guess whose pictures were behind that door? That’s right. Max and Wyatt.

You would figure, or at least I would, that since we live a thousand miles away that their pictures would be front and center. But they weren’t. They were tucked back behind the door, barely visible by any guests that may be arriving. Once we noticed the pictures, we realized that all the other preparations were just a ruse, to make us feel loved.

I, of course, mentioned the picture arrangement to my mom. The next day she re-arranged the pictures to our liking; the pictures of Max and Wyatt front and center and the Lawnwhisperer’s kids behind the door.