Thursday, May 07, 2009

The bad daughter repents

An SMS exchange with my father (since I don't actually have my mom's phone number - I'm a horrible daughter. Old news. We're Finnish - deal) on Sunday 3rd May 2009 at 11:24PM Finnish time:

The Bad Daughter:  Hope you are well! In case it's Mothers' day today a bunch of hugs to mom, if it's not then when exactly is it?

Father who was woken up by the SMS because he normally goes to bed around 10PM and who has never thoroughly embraced the SMS functionality on his phone: In a week.

The Bad Daughter: Good Night

The Father who was once, years ago, woken up by a frantic overseas phone call from his daughter concerning a certain elusive PIN code to a Visa card and a motel bill that needed to be settled right a way, to which he accidentally answered with the wrong number and then spent the next half an hour pacing the hallway waiting for his daughter to call back from the pay phone somewhere in Downtown Denver: Good Night

And we haven't even touched upon the subject of the daughter's travels onboard a greyhound bus, thrice across the American continent when she was just of age.

Any mothers' or fathers' day gift ideas?

19 comments:

Sarah said...

Mother's day is a mine field, can never ever get it right. And, believe me, am far worse daughter than that. Though did remember when Mother's Day was.

My name is Erin. said...

It's Father's day that I dread. I have wonderful ideas for a line of Father's Day cards, that could probably translate into Mother's Day cards for some as well. For instance...

Outside: Pretty scenic shot of father and son fishing.
Inside: Sure you never took me fishing due to the fact that you sleeping away the day, because the night before you were out until 6 A.M., high on cocaine and screwing someone other than my mom. Hey it was the 80's and we all survived, so who am I to complain. Happy Father's Day!

or...

Outside: Cute photo of father and daughter having a tea party.
Inside: My therapist says that the only way I'll ever truly get over your abandonment in order to have a fulfilling relationship of my own is to confront you and accept our relationship for what it is. So, here goes nothing... Happy Father's Day!

I think I'll wait until my dad is actually dead before I pursue this line of cards. I know there is a market out there for them.

Extranjera said...

VEG - Am still a little hazy on the whole when is it exactly, so am having my dad call me with a surprise it's mothers' day call to my mum (Yup. That means he'll pay).

Erin B - OMFokkenG! Those are awesome!!! You're gonna be a millionaire (can I sponge for having at some point been inspirational after my husband's dead of too long of Zambia and not enough of me). Please make them (just a couple) and sell them on Etsy. Please! That is so flippen good and funny!!!

My name is Erin. said...

Thanks! I had never thought of Etsy! Great idea. Maybe I will. I don't have to tell my dad where my riches are being earned. LOL!

My name is Erin. said...

And sadly, there are plenty more where that came from.

Extranjera said...

Please do that whole Etsy thing! I'm a customer!! Not cause of my dad (I have a heap of other family related problems).
I think you're an awesome photographer, and your idea (even if it was in jest) is pretty darn good!

Extranjera said...

And I realize there are a bunch of real issues out there but frankly, as my philosophy dictates, make it work for you and make some frikken money off of it!
However I do sympathize (email me - on my profile).
You are so fokken funny!!!

Just Jules said...

Ok, so hubby is more Finnish then he is not - is this why he swears so much when angry? :) (saw the swearing lesson offer on blog camp blog)

Extranjera said...

JJ - The hubby is actually not Finnish at all, and doesn't generally swear that much, he doesn't even speak Finnish.
I'm the designated swearer and the drinker in the family. And do pretty fokken well at both ;o)

Unknown said...

I actually forgot Mother's Day this year (It was last Sunday in Spain, but it was sometime in march in England). How are you supposed to remember if the shops don't tell you? I still can't believe my sister didn't text me to remind me! My Mum did, though. She had to remind me so I could say Happy Mother's Day! Oh, well!

Mara said...

Don't feel bad...I may very well have been the worst daughter ever during my pre-teen and teen years.

Cyndy said...

One year I made collages for them both, using all the sayings they used (you know, the ones that ring in your head even after all these years). Wrapped it in tin foil (I was thirty but acting like I was six). It was very cathartic for me (the voices disappeared--for awhile) and it bought me a lot of miles for forgotten holidays (past and future).

Extranjera said...

B - I can't keep track either. That's what I have the hubby for... ;o) Recently realized that I'm at blog camp on my wedding anniversary. Good dauhter, good wife?

M.J. - It's good to know I'm not alone.

Cyndy - Thanks for the idea, but will have to figure out something I can organize through the internet. Just got to Zambia...

Sarah said...

Yay you got to Zambia safe and have NOT gone analog. My world is now complete.

Extranjera said...

VEG - I know!!! It's not the most reliable connection though. Stiff keeps timing out, but it's better than nothing...

Sarah said...

I firmly believe that ANY connection, even dialup (though who the heck still uses that?) is better than NO connection. The analog world is too full of idiots anyway. Many of them employed by the company I work for.

Unknown said...

I saw on your badge that you were going to be in blog camp for your anniversary. I hope we can make up for it! Not in that way... ;)

Extranjera said...

VEG - This might actually be dial up...

B - I think the worst part is that until I actually put the badge on my blog I hadn't realized my anniversary was during blog camp... Bad wife.

As long as there's wine and pastry I'll be okay.

Dutchbaby said...

Erin is brilliant! I once heard a mother at our kids' school say: "Of course you have to apply for financial aid,Honey, your dad and I snorted all your college money away in the eighties."