Hang out time with Mom

Yesterday afternoon my mother and I spent most of the day together. It was the longest amount of time we've been around one another in quite awhile.

I drove her out to Gaithersburg, Maryland to have her special contact lenses examined and cleaned (I had to smile when, while traveling, she commented that she has never had any desire to live in Maryland at any point in her life-- affirming that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree).

While waiting for the cleaning, we went and bought drinks at a Starbucks. There, we actually held a long-lasting conversation about my parents retirement, my sister's college plans, my friend's new baby, and some other things.

Unfortunately, it has been awhile since I've actually sat down and talked with my mother, or any member of my family, for that long.

It was a nice change.