Once many years ago, Mother said to us, her three children, that she had a wish "to have a weekend with her children again." Dad reinterated how great that would be for the both of them. This Mother's Day weekend, May 11,2003, we three Huggins children, Pam, Jimmie, and Ron did just that.
One month ago, I called Dad and Jimmie and told them that I wanted us to try and surprise Mom for Mother's Day and have all three of us there alone without children or spouses. Realizing this was a mild sort of selfishness, I applaude the spouses who so graciously stepped away and let this wonderful weekend happen.
I spent most of Thursday evening traveling in a Trailways bus to Raleigh,NC, with wonderful memories of my Grandfather Banks who drove those buses for years)flowing through my mind like the crystal clear waters of a spring in a
secret place in the woods of Troy, NC. But, thats another wonderful story.
Jimmie and Doug picked me up at the bus station and off we went!
In no time we were at Jimmie and Doug's and off to sleep.
Friday morning, we all got up early, had breakfast, and Doug took care of the car for us as we two excited ladies readied ourselves for the weekend surprise.
Once the bags were packed and in the car we headed to the beach with whimsical smiles and childlike,sisterly laughter for what would be the most wonderful weekend our family has ever had.
Along the way we called Ron to make sure all was still going well with his plans. He afforded the time off by his employer and had to change his plans to arriving late Friday night.And come to find our later, Dad and slipped and Mom found out that Ron was coming down with Jimmie,who had told her she was coming earlier in the week. Still, she did not have a clue that I was on the way.
As we pulled into the driveway, we decided to let her thing she was coming to help Jimmie unload the car and I slipped along the side of the car and surprised her with a big HI MOM!
Of course, like the great and tender Mother that she is, she cried.
Dad just smiled really big and we told her that he had been in on it for the whole time.
I had not been home on Mother's Day in a very long time.
We had a wonderful evening together, having dinner, laughing and telling stories until we just could not stay awake any longer. Jimmie, Dad and I went to bed and Mom waited up for Ron. His trip turned out to be quite an adventure and he did not arrive until 2:00am.
It was a good thing Mom waited for him as, just like a true to form Son, he forgot his keys. They sat and talked for quite a bit while Ron finally ate something and then went to bed.
The next morning, Saturday, we all got ready for the day and after breakfast, Dad and Ron took off on a golf date and Mom and the girls took off shopping(imagine that).
And what a day we had!We went from one end of Ocean Isle Beach to the other and Myrtle Beach as well. I know we must have walked half back to Raleigh. We had a late lunch at Applebee's and headed home to have our happy hour.....well "it was 5:00 somewhere".
Jimmie had suggested ribs on the grill and what a great job she and Dad did on the dinner. It was so delicious that I went through half a roll of paper towels just to wipe my hands!!!!! After dinner we were going to go shag dancing together, but started reminising and sharing stories and before we could even complain about our side and stomachs hurting from laughter, it was after eleven o'clock. We were all pretty tired and headed for bed. Sunday morning we all got up and ready for our last morning of the weekend and headed out to take Mom and Dad to breakfast. Of course, the decision on where to go was a 30 minute discussion, when finally Jimmie told Mom to decide since it was Mother's Day and off we went. The food was good, but the company was the best ever and we, the Jim and Lois Huggins family, filled our tummies with tasty vittles, and our hearts with smiles we will never forget!
It was back to the Huggins Hilton to get our luggage and pack our
cars for the trip home.
But it was not the end of a wonderful time at all.....it was the beginning of a brand new journey for all of us! A new adventure awaiting the next visit and the next set of momories we, the Huggins clan will add to our enormous, unending, book of laughter, tears, jokes, hugs and most of all
Love.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY
May 11, 2003.
Pam Huggins |
