My son Alex and I were driving down the road when I noticed a line of trees draped in blooming wisteria vines.

“Oh… isn’t that beautiful!” I said as I pointed to the clusters of purple flowers covering dozens and dozens of pine trees along the side of the road. “Quick! Roll down your window. I wonder if we can smell them from here.”

When I didn’t see anyone behind us I slowed down a bit as Alex rolled down his window. “There it is!” I cried as I could smell their heavy scent.

I inhaled deeply again. “That brings me right back to my childhood.” I looked over at Alex. “And your childhood, too.” I looked in the mirror as they slowly disappeared from sight. “I used to stand under our wisteria arbor every spring fascinated with the delicate flowers that reminded me of a cluster of grapes.” I sighed at the memory. “Of course you had to swat a few bees out of your way as you stood there.” I shrugged my shoulders. “But that was the price you paid for being out there when they were in bloom.” I looked over at Alex. “What about you? Do you remember standing under the arbor smelling them?”

Alex shook his head. “I remember them but it was more of a smell that I associated with school coming to an end and wanting to be outside playing with my friends.” He began to laugh. “I don’t remember just standing there smelling them.”

I had to laugh myself. “That’s true. You and your friends were pretty busy just running around the yard. I guess thinking a bunch of little boys would be standing there smelling flowers would seem a little odd.”

“But those pine trees back there were completely covered in them!” He pointed his thumb over his shoulder. “I never realized wisteria was so invasive.”

“It’s a pretty fast growing vine.”

“How come ours didn’t do that?”

“Because your Dad was out there trimming them all the time.” I sighed. “That’s one of the reasons he doesn’t want me to get one for this house.”

“Hey, I don’t blame him!” Alex shook his head. “That was crazy how they took over those trees.”

“Yeah. Eventually their vines will kill the tree.”

“Well, I like the woods in our backyard.” Alex looked over at me and patted me on the arm. “Sorry, but I’m with Dad on this one.”

“I get it.” I sighed again as I pulled into our neighborhood and saw another wisteria vine covering some trees along the side of the road. “I’ll just have to enjoy wisteria season a new way!” I pulled over, left the car running and opened my door.

“What are you doing?” Alex asked.

“I’m going to snap off a few of the flowers and bring them home.”

“Are you serious?” Alex looked around to see if anyone was looking.

“It’s an empty lot.” I said as I stepped out of the car. “It’s not like I’m going into someone’s yard.”

I trotted over to the low hanging flowers and snapped a few off and trotted back to the car.

“Here hold these.” I handed the flowers to Alex. “Be careful they’re delicate.”

Alex sighed as he gently held the flowers in his open palms. “Why can’t you do these things when I’m not in the car?”

I looked over and smiled. “Where would the fun be in that?”

My son Alex had been spending some time on the back deck when I heard the back door open. “It’s beautiful outside.” He called. I could hear the sound of something being put in the kitchen sink.

“Dishwasher’s clean!” I called back.

“Okay, thanks.”

I was sitting on the couch, working on my laptop, when he came around the corner and stood in the living room.

“You should really try and get outside today.”

“I know. I know. But I just want to finish this up before I head out.” I was still typing when I looked up and saw he was holding a book. “Hey, what are you reading?” I tried squinting but couldn’t see the title.

“It’s about an economist who started a hedge fund.” He held the book up for me to see.

I nodded as if I were interested. “Does he get the girl in the end?”

Alex looked confused. “What?”

“Well, I like a book that has some twists and turns but in the end everyone lives happily ever after.” I pointed to his book. “So is he married? Does he get the girl in the end?”

Alex looked at the back cover. “I think he’s married.”

I was still nodding. “So, what about kids? Does he have any of those?”

Alex shook his head still looking confused. “I think so.”

“How many?” I closed my laptop and moved a pillow behind my back to get more comfortable.

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I think he has two.”

“So, he does get the girl and live happily ever after. Sounds like a good read to me.” I opened my laptop again. “Maybe when you’re done you can let me borrow it.”

Alex burst out laughing as he held up his book. “There’s no way you’d find this interesting.”

I didn’t look up but continued to type. “You’re sure right about that.” I shrugged my shoulders. “But since you just kind of gave me the Cliff Notes on the parts I’d be interested in I guess I can skip it now.”

Alex walked over to the couch and sat down next to me. “Okay, really. When was the last time you read anything about finance?”

I stopped typing, looked over at him and smiled. “Last week when I read my bank statement and balanced my checkbook.”

He laughed again. “Okay, I guess you got me with that one.” He got up from the couch and started to walk to his bedroom.

“Hey!” I threw up my hands. “I feel like life’s tough enough. When I read it’s for a little escapism. That’s why I usually prefer a light read.” I called.

Alex stopped and turned around. “I get it.” He held up his book again. “You’re just not interested in this stuff.”

“But I’m glad you are.” I smiled as I blew him a kiss. “Because if I ever get enough money and want to start my own hedge fund I’ll know exactly who I can go to.”

Alex laughed as he started walking down the hall again. “Just let me finish the book before you start asking me to open a hedge fund for you.” He called.

“Sing us a song you’re the piano man…” I sung in the phone when my sister Liz picked up.

She started to laugh.

“Okay, so I’m not a very good singer.” I laughed to myself. “But did you know Billy Joel’s 100^th concert at Madison Square Garden is going to be shown on TV tonight?”

“I already have it taped.” she answered.

“Oh.” I was confused. “But it’s on tonight.”

“They must be replaying it because it was on a few days ago.”

“Aw. I was going to ask you if you wanted to watch it together and we could reminisce about when we went to see him in person.” I looked at my glass of wine sitting on the coffee table, ready for the concert to begin.

“How long ago was that?” she asked. “It’s got to be about six years!”

“Well, I can tell you we were in the balcony, on the right hand side of the stage and the man next to me was playing air drums. It turns out his high hat was right in front of my face!” I couldn’t help but laugh. “He was wailing on that cymbal all night long!”

Liz started to laugh again. “How do you remember all that?”

“Because I don’t go to many concerts so each and every one of them is memorable to me!” I picked up the remote for the television and clicked it on. “The concert is starting in about five minutes. Are you in?”

“I’m sorry.” She sighed. “But I’m not going to be able to watch it with you tonight. I’m going out with some friends.”

“Aw. That’s too bad.” I reached over and picked up my glass of wine and took a sip. “I was looking forward to watching it with you.”

“Why don’t you watch it now and when I get the chance to watch it later I’ll call you and we can talk about it then?”

“That sounds like a plan.” I looked over at the television and could see that the concert was about to begin. “I gotta go. It’s about to start.”

“Enjoy. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Have fun with your friends!” I hung up and dropped the phone next to me on the couch. I was taking another sip from my glass when my son Alex walked into the room. “Hey, do you want to watch Billy Joel’s 100^th concert with me?” I patted the couch cushion next to me.

“I was just coming out to get something to eat. Tommy and I are in the middle of a Call of Duty game. Why don’t you ask Dad?”

“He’s downstairs watching a movie.” I put my glass back on the coffee table. “That’s okay Liz and I have already been to his concert.” I pointed to the television. “I just want to see it again and I’ll catch up with your Aunt Lizzy tomorrow.” I grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch and threw it over my legs. “I think I’m finally getting to that age where watching a concert on the television, sitting on my own couch, and sipping some wine is even better than being there in person!”

Alex kissed me on the top of the head before he headed into the kitchen. “Have fun!” He called over his shoulder.

“Oh, I will!” I grabbed my glass again, held it up for a quick salute before taking another sip and settling in for the night.

I was struggling to carry several grocery bags up the front walk. Standing at the bottom of the porch steps, still holding all the bags and trying to get my house keys out of my pocket, when the front door opened.

“Do you need help?” My son Alex asked.

“I’ve got it.” I said as I struggled up the front step and into the house. “I’m afraid if let go of any of them they’re all going to go.”

Getting into the kitchen I lifted my arms and placed all the bags on the counter top. “Whew!” I took a deep breath. “They were heavy!”

Alex had closed the front door and came into the kitchen. “Why didn’t you call me to come get some of them or at least make two trips?”

I shook my head and frowned. “What would be the challenge in that?”

“Challenge?” Alex began unloading the bags.

“Seeing if I can get an entire grocery carts worth of food into the house at once.” I rubbed my arms where the bags had hung from. “A couple of bruises are going to be popping up in the morning. I can just feel it.”

Alex was putting the frozen food away. “Well, I’m glad I saw you coming and I could get the door at least.”

I gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I love coming home to a doorman building.”

Alex laughed as he went back to the grocery bags and began unloading more. “I wouldn’t call it a doorman building.”

“I would!” I put the bread away in the cabinet. “Your Aunt Lizzy couldn’t wait to live in a doorman building when she was in the city!” I tossed him a box of crackers for him to put away. “There was always someone there to open the door for you. Someone to accept packages when you weren’t home. Always standing guard making you feel safe.” I looked over at Alex. “With you working from home I get all those benefits!”

Alex looked over and shrugged his shoulders. “I guess.”

“Not only do you open the door for me when I get home, I also don’t have to worry that a package is going to be left out in the rain.” I reached in another bag and took out the lettuce, celery, and carrots. opened the refrigerator, and put them in the vegetable drawer. “When I come home the package is sitting on the chair near the door so I can see it as soon as I walk in.”

Alex nodded his head. “That’s true.”

“I also don’t have to worry about intruders because you’re almost always here!” I leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “It’s like having my own personal Queen’s guard!”

Alex laughed as he folded an empty bag. “Okay, let’s not get carried away!”

“Okay, maybe not the Queen’s guard but definitely a doorman building!” I was folding my own empty bag when I looked up and saw Alex looking at me with his eyebrows raised. “What?” I asked.

“Didn’t you say Aunt Lizzy used to tip her doormen?”

Now it was my turn to laugh. “Yes, she did. But that was at Christmas. My doorman gets tipped every night with dinner!”

“That sounds fair.” Alex laughed then scooped up the bags and grabbed my car keys. “I’ll put the bags back in your car.”

I went and opened the front door for him giving him another kiss on the cheek as he passed me. “Looks like someone’s working towards an extra helping of pasta tonight.”

“There’s a storm a’brewing.” I said as I rubbed my hip and looked out the window.

“Really?” My son Alex took out his phone and checked his weather app. “There wasn’t any predicted in the forecast for today.”

“I don’t care what the weather app says.” I began flexing my fingers and couldn’t help but cringe as my joints felt sore. “I’m telling you it’s going to rain today.”

Alex looked out the window. “There isn’t a cloud in the sky.”

“Now that I’m getting older I’ve become a human barometer.” I rubbed my hip again. “I’m telling you rain is on the way.” I slowly walked over to the cabinet to get a glass. Then went to the sink to fill it with water. “My achy joints don’t lie my friend.”

“When did you start feeling achy?” Alex leaned against the counter.

“I woke up with it.” I took a sip of water. “But it’s only getting worse as the day goes on.”

Alex looked out the window again. “Maybe it’s not the weather that’s making you sore.” He looked over at me and took a step back. “Maybe you’re getting sick.”

I shook my head. “I can tell the difference between my aches.” I pointed to my hip. “This one is definitely weather.”

“Well, I was headed out for a walk. Do you want to come with me?” He pointed to his room. “I was just going to grab my sneakers.” He headed down the hallway. “Maybe that will make you feel better?” He called over his shoulder.

I took another sip of water before putting the glass in the dishwasher.

Alex came out of his room carrying his sneakers.

“Maybe you’re right.” I arched my back hoping that would relieve the ache. “A walk might be just what I need right now.”

We both grabbed a light jacket before heading out the door.

We’d been walking for several blocks when I felt a splash of water hit my face. I looked over at Alex. “Was that a raindrop?” I asked as I held my hand out to catch another one if it fell.

Alex looked up. “Hey! I just felt one too!”

I felt another hit my hand. “Yup! It’s definitely starting to rain.”

It began to rain harder so we both turned around to head back home.

“How can that be?” Alex asked as he looked up at the cloudless sky.

“It’s a sun shower!” I said and couldn’t help but smile. “I’ve only seen a few of these!”

We were picking up the pace of our walk as we began getting wetter.

With our house in sight Alex jogged the last few yards to open the door for me.

The rain was already beginning to let up.

“I said it was going to rain!” I laughed as I hung my damp jacket on the door knob of the coat closet. I rubbed my hip again. “I told you I’m a human barometer!”

Standing in the open doorway Alex cleared his throat. “I think your exact words were, ‘There’s a storm a’brewing’.” He pointed over his shoulder. “I don’t think a sun shower counts.”

“Hey, rain is rain.” I shrugged my shoulders and was still rubbing my hip. “That’s all that matters to these achy joints.”

Alex shook his head as he took of his jacket. “Well, now that the rain is over maybe you’ll start feeling better.”

“Nope.” I shook my head as I began rubbing the joint by my thumb. “I hate to say it but this still feels like more is on the way.”

My husband Steven and I were sitting on the couch, both of us scrolling through our phones, when I remembered something I wanted to ask him. “Hey, did you notice that our forsythia is really popping this year?”

Steven looked up confused. “Forsythia? Where do we have forsythia?”

Now I was confused. “You haven’t seen it?” I got up and went to the back door. Steven was right behind me. I stepped outside and pointed to our fence by the trash containers. “It’s been sticking out of the top of our garbage pail corral.”

“I thought I cut that down last year!”

“Cut it down! Why would you cut it down?”

Steven pointed to the forsythia. “Because it’s just a few yellow sticks growing through the fence!”

“But that’s what I like about it.” I argued. “It’s a scrappy little fighter! You said so yourself.”

Steven began shaking his head. “When did I say it was a scrappy little fighter?”

“Well, you didn’t actually use those words, but you said you cut it down last year and here it is making it’s way through the fence…” I shrugged my shoulders. “It’s a survivor!” I held up my pointer finger to make my point. “Which makes it a scrappy little fighter.” I reasoned.

Steven just sighed. “You don’t think it looks ridiculous?”

“Sure I do. But a little burst of sunshine color on a dreary day certainly makes up for how ridiculous it looks sticking through the fence like that.”

Our son Alex came out the back door. “What are you two arguing about?”

Steven pointed to the forsythia sticks poking through the fence. “Your Mom doesn’t want me to cut that down.”

I quickly interjected before Alex had a chance to respond. “Your Dad cut it down last year and yet it’s back.” I shrugged my shoulders. “I think it should get some respect for it’s survivor skills. That’s all.”

Alex laughed. “Survivor skills.”

He looked over at me and saw that I wasn’t laughing.

“Oh, you’re serious.” He stopped laughing and began backing up towards the door. “Well, you two seem to have this under control so, I’m going to head back inside and get back to work.”

Steven looked back at me and shook his head. “You realize that when I start trimming around the yard I’m going to be cutting it down again?”

“Sure.” I pointed back at the forsythia. “But right now it’s a pop of color that makes me smile.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Besides every time you cut it back it just seems to come back stronger. That’s what I call a survivor!”

“Okay. I’ll make you a deal.” Steven said.

I was feeling cautious. “What kind of deal?”

“If you stop calling it a survivor I’ll wait until after it blooms to cut it down.” He held out his hand for us to shake on it.

“Deal.” I said as I took his hand, pulling him closer so I could give him a kiss on the cheek.

I was following Steven back inside when I couldn’t help but turn around to give the forsythia one last look. “See you next year.” I whispered.

“I heard that!” Steven called over his shoulder.

“I love this time of year.” I said as I looked out our front window. “The forsythia is in full bloom, a hint of green is coming out on the willow trees, robins are running amuck all over the neighbor’s front yards…”

“And bunnies are everywhere!” Alex interrupted me as he came to stand next to me at the window.

“Where?” I scanned the yard but couldn’t see any.

“Turn around.” He took me by the shoulders and slowly spun me around. “The house is full of them!” He laughed.

I looked around the living room and into the dining room. He was absolutely right. “I do like to decorate with bunnies this time of year.” I admitted. “But you have to agree they’re adorable!” I went over to the three foot high white bunny standing in the corner holding a knockoff Faberge’ egg in his paw.

Alex did a head nod towards the bunny. “I think the sunglasses I put on him really helped his whole look.”

I laughed as I adjusted them to sit better on his face. “I have to agree with you on that one.” I went over to the dining room table that had a crystal bowl filled with multi-colored alabaster stone eggs. Picking one up I held it in the palm of my hand admiring the swirls of color. “It’s not just bunnies I like to display this time of year!” I held it out for Alex to see. “I’ve been collecting these since I was a teenager.”

Alex shook his head and started to laugh. “You certainly picked an unusual collection when you were a kid.”

I looked confused. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Alex took the egg out of my hand and held it up. “Exactly how many of your friends were collecting stone eggs when you were a teenager?”

I had to laugh “Probably none.” I took the egg out of his hand and placed it back in the bowl. “But that doesn’t mean I was weird for collecting them.”

Alex looked surprised. “I never said you were weird. I just said what you collected was unusual, that’s all.”

I looked over at him and sighed. “Now that I think about it most of my friends were reading Teen Beat and Tiger Beat magazines and decorating their wall with the posters they found in them.” I shrugged my shoulders and pointed at the crystal bowl on the dining room table. “While I was collecting alabaster eggs.”

Alex patted me on the shoulder. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

“I also collected wheat pennies and mechanical banks.” I shook my head and looked over at him. “I guess that was a little weird for a teenager.”

“Oh, come on.” He began patting me on the top of my head. “That doesn’t make you weird.”

I sighed again. “I was also making quilts and working with stained glass.”

Alex looked confused. “You were doing all that when you were a teenager?”

I sadly nodded my head.

“Well, it’s a little unusual but I still wouldn’t call it weird.” Alex looked around the living room. “When did you start collecting the bunnies?”

“That wasn’t until you and your brother were little. I wanted to decorate the house for the different seasons for you guys.”

He looked back over at the three foot bunny in the corner and I started to laugh. “You definitely would have thought I was weird if I’d gotten that when I was a teenager!” I said.

“Well,” Alex began slowly nodding his head. “That would have gotten you a maybe.”

I was walking into the kitchen rubbing the sleep from my eyes when my husband Steven looked over at me.

“Morning. How’d you sleep?” He asked as he poured the water into the coffee maker.

“More weird dreams.” I sighed as I went over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “And I’m exhausted.”

“What was this one about?” He took his coffee mug from the cabinet and placed it on the counter.

“I honestly can’t explain it.” I went over and filled the tea kettle with water. “I was fighting with someone I don’t remember who or even what the argument was about. I was late to wherever I was going, and I had forgotten to put on my shoes.” I shook my head and sighed again. “Not sure what that was supposed to teach me.”

Steven laughed. “I don’t think all dreams are there to teach us something.”

I shrugged my shoulders and put the kettle on the stove. “Well, I’d like to think so.”

“Well, maybe that one was telling you to set your alarm for an earlier time and have your shoes by the door so you don’t forget them?” Steven laughed as he watched his cup begin to fill with coffee.

“Very funny.” I sighed again.

Our son Alex came into the kitchen. “What was very funny?” He asked.

“Your Mom had another weird dream.” Steven said as he took a sip of coffee.

“I’m telling you it’s your anxiety.” Alex said as he began making his coffee.

“What do I have to be anxious about?” I asked.

Both Steven and Alex stopped what they’d been doing and gave me surprised looks.

“Okay fine.” I sighed. “I’m an anxious person. I get that. But this dream had me in an argument with a stranger in my own house! I was running late to wherever I was supposed to be and I looked down and saw that I’d forgotten my shoes.” I looked over at Alex. “I couldn’t even get out of the house in this dream.”

“Well, maybe that’s a good thing.” Alex leaned against the counter and took a sip of his coffee.

“Why?” Now I was confused.

“Well, I’m pretty sure if you got a chance to open the front door you’d have seen…”

I smacked my forehead with the palm of my hand as I finished the sentence for him. “The office chair waiting for me in the driveway!”

“Exactly!” Alex laughed. “How many times did you dream that one?”

I laughed and looked over at Steven. “That one was popping up almost weekly for a while there.” I shook my head at the memory. “I’d open the front door and see an office chair where my car had been parked. I’d be so mad that my car was switched with an office chair. I had to wheel myself down the street, looking over my shoulder to see where I was going!”

“See? You need to look on the bright side.” Alex shrugged his shoulders. “You haven’t had the office chair dream in a long time.”

“That’s true.” I started to yawn and quickly put my hand over my mouth to cover it. “But I’m still exhausted.” I sighed.

It had been pouring rain overnight for several hours. My husband Steven was away on a trip so I was in charge of checking the basement to see if any water came in.

When I woke up my son Alex was already in the kitchen making coffee. “How’s the basement doing?” he asked.

“I don’t know. I haven’t checked it yet.” I reached in the cabinet to get a cup for my tea.

“Really?” Alex looked surprised as he looked out the window. “When it’s raining this hard Dad usually gets up a few times during the night to make sure everything stays dry down there.”

I put my cup on the counter top. “Oh, man. I forgot he did that.” I went to check the basement. Looking through Steven’s office, the laundry room, and pantry I could see no water had come in.

When I came up from the basement Alex was leaned against the counter top sipping from his coffee cup.

“How’s it look down there?” He asked as he put the cup down and took a slice of bread and popped it in the toaster.

“So far so good.” I filled the kettle with water and put it on the stove to heat. “Man, it’s really coming down.” I said as I looked out the window over the sink. “I wonder when it’s going to stop?”

Alex grabbed his phone and checked the weather app. “I looks like it’s got about another hour and then it’s going to tamper off.”

“That’s good.” I went to fix my tea. “Looks like we’re going to make it through another storm with the basement staying dry.”

“Don’t say that!” Alex said as he buttered the toast that had just popped out of the toaster. “You’ll jinx us!”

I had to laugh. “We’ll be fine.”

Just then we heard a loud and constant chirp coming from our back porch.

We both looked out the kitchen window and saw a chipmunk sitting on the arm of our Adirondack chair safely tucked under our porch roof but chirping frantically at the rainy weather.

“He doesn’t look too happy.” I said as looked around the yard. “I wonder what’s got him so upset?”

Alex pointed to the downspout at the side of our house. “I’m pretty sure his house just got flooded.”

I looked over to where he had one of his tunnels and saw it was filled with water. “Oh, the poor little thing.” I looked over at Alex. “What should we do?”

Alex laughed. “What do you mean, ‘what should we do?’”

I pointed to the chipmunk still chirping at the storm. “He’s been flooded out of his house!”

Alex looked confused. “It’s a chipmunk. I’m pretty sure he’s been through this before.”

“But look how upset he is.” I went over to the cabinet where I kept some shelled peanuts for the wildlife and pulled out the bag. “Maybe I should toss some of these out to him?” I was holding up the bag. “Maybe a little treat might make him feel better?” I was headed to the back door.

“Wait! Don’t go out!” Alex said.

I stopped and looked over at him. “Why?”

“Because you’re going to scare him. He’s going to want to run away and he has no place to go.” Alex pointed over to his flooded tunnel.

“Oh, good point.” I looked out the window and held up the bag. “As soon as the rain stops I promise to toss some out for you!”

The chipmunk was still incessantly chirping at the storm.

Alex laughed as he patted me on the shoulder. “I’m sure he’s going to appreciate that when the storm’s finished.”

I shook the bag by the window. “Treats are coming little man!”

I had just gotten back from grocery shopping and was unloading the bags in the kitchen when my son Alex came in to help me.

I took a bottle of shampoo from a bag and was placing it on the counter when I noticed the shampoo’s directions and started to laugh. “Ah… now it’s massage on wet hair to lather. Rinse. Follow up with conditioner.” I put the bottle down, shaking my head. “When I was little the directions on the bottle were, lather, rinse and repeat.”

Alex opened the refrigerator and tossed a bag of carrots in the vegetable bin. “Why would you put shampoo in your hair twice?”

“Because that’s what the bottle said you had to do!” I opened the bag of avocados and placed them on the butcher block.

“That doesn’t make sense.” He grabbed a box of crackers off the counter top and went over to the cabinet. “Didn’t you think your hair was clean the first time?”

“Obviously not! Everyone rinsed and repeated.” I tossed him a loaf of bread to put in the cabinet next to the crackers. “Nobody realized it was the advertising companies trying to get us to use twice as much shampoo then we really needed.” I shrugged my shoulders. “We were all pretty gullible back then.”

Alex started to laugh. “So, what if they’d told you that you needed to pour some down the drain for extra shampoo luck?”

“I’m sure we would have done it!” I laughed. I pulled out the matching bottle of conditioner and placed it next to the shampoo. “Now we just lather and rinse once with shampoo but don’t forget to make sure to use the matching conditioner right after!” I laughed again.

“You really don’t have to use the same brand for each.” He reminded me.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I know. But the matching bottles look better on the shower shelf.”

Alex took the carton of milk and put it on the top shelf in the refrigerator. “Well, that’s what really matters.”

“Exactly.” I handed him a jar of pickles. While he was putting them in the cabinet I took out some onions and yams, placing them next to the avocados on the butcher block.

I was ready to reach in the bag again when I stopped and looked over at Alex. “You know now that I think about it I remember watching commercials for Pop Tarts where they told us they had real fruit filling and were loaded with vitamins and minerals.”

Alex looked surprised. “Pop Tarts?”

I nodded my head. “They told us it was the perfect on-the-go breakfast.”

“And you believed that?”

“Of course! Because that’s what the commercial told us.”

“You know, they’re so bad for you that they’re actually banned in other countries!”

“I know.” I nodded as I scooped up the bottles of shampoo and conditioner. “But they’re still sold here.” I reminded him.

I was headed for my bathroom as I called over my shoulder. “That’s because we were the lather, rinse and repeat generation!”