Birthday Surprises

Betty turns 85 today. I was gone most of the day yesterday (took sick Korean host daughter to doctor, after taking my mom to the podiatrist), and when I came home between bringing Mikey home from his soccer practice and driving back to pick up Sami from her soccer practice, I went in to check on Betty.

"I need a sheet," she said.

I looked at her bed, which seemed well-sheeted to me.

"I need a sheet."

"Clean sheets?"

"I need a sheet."

I'll skip the next few minutes and get right to the part where I figure out she means a sheet CAKE. Today is her 85th birthday, and yesterday she wanted to make sure I had purchased a cake to take to the Senior Center. I had already bought one, but she insisted it was too small. She'd been told she could bring a "sheet cake" to share with the staff and clients, and was sure they meant a full sheet cake.

"Just order me another one," she said.

I get full credit for not exploding on the spot, as I had exactly 30 minutes to deal with this. I ran to Kroger, had them decorate another cake to add to the one I had already bought, raced over to the soccer fields, and picked up Sami. So Betty is taking two cakes today...

Happy Birthday.

Dean Martin and Death

This is one of those mornings when Betty vacilates between longing for the tranquility of The Big Sleep and hoping her Dean Martin DVD's arrive soon.