Now Playing: “Unforgettable,” Natalie Cole and Nat “King” Cole

Word Raccoon had a hunch today. She suspected there might be something new waiting in a recently updated space she hadn’t thoroughly plumbed. (You know, the artsy places.)

She was not wrong. There, a Fabergé-caliber Easter egg of sorts awaited her. 

We gasped. We gawked. WR tried to taste the screen.

Approved! 

If WR wanted to paint before, she really, really wants to now. As if she could capture his image.

(Stop trying to nibble at my phone, WR!)

(I’ve offered to take her to the Caillebotte exhibit soon at the Art Institute, if it pleases her majesty. The book for the show is aptly subtitled, “Painting Men.” Maybe that will calm her?)

Though WR says no brush could ever quite capture the particular heartbreak of a man who doesn’t bother to shave and still looks that damn good.

Zip it, WR! 

Whew.

Moving on. 

This morning, Word Raccoon and I went shopping for a family gathering and she decided at the last minute with less than two hours to get ready and travel (which, to be fair, was nearby) that she wanted to make an edible wreath honoring my mother and sister.

One made up of fall-themed tea cakes.

I mean…cute idea, yes, they both would have liked it. No chocolate, though, because Tammy did not like chocolate. (I used to tease that we couldn’t possibly really be related because of that.) 

But I told WR that we hadn’t even chosen our clothes. 

She stamped her foot in the aisle, teared up, and insisted. “This is our first family gathering since the funeral. We will do this.”

So I made the wreath. Using pre-made tea cakes, but I made it, and I topped it with my mom’s favorite, snowball cakes. She also really liked her snowball bushes. I forgot to ask anyone if they bloomed this year, and if they did so before…

But while WR and I were checking out at the first store (we do not have many options in our town), I made small talk with the cashier and learned some scandalous Hatfields-and-McCoys- light stuff regarding the local dollar stores. 

I had no idea. 

Apparently, she whispered conspiratorially as she pushed my items over the scanner, it even involves a local church whose pastor allegedly supported bringing in a dollar store in a nearby town and his people are leaving his church because he didn’t support the dollar store that was already there.

I’d watch that reality show: Dollar Store Wars, Church Edition. Anyone else in?

Once WR and I had visited the next store, I kept telling WR there was no way we were going to be on time if she didn’t hurry up. She told us we are always early, and if we ended up being late who cared? 

“Do you think the world is going to end if you’re not there at noon on the dot?” WR asked.

That stopped me. 

“But WR, my father prided himself on being early everywhere. We can’t be late. It’s rude.” 

“Then text ahead and tell them you’re running late, if you are.” 

I ran through the shower and after, she pointed at her purple dress.

“There might be yard games,” I said. “A dress is not practical.”

She pointed at the dress again. She didn’t have to remind me that purple was Tammy’s favorite color. 

“Fine, but shorts under it,” I insisted.

She was in rare form today, I swear. I didn’t resist when she insisted on wearing the earrings with all the words on them, because what was the point?  

Reader, we were right on time. 

Once home after the fun time, I was shortly greeted with an armload of deliveries to review from the sweetest delivery driver who circled the house looking for the correct door. That’s above and beyond and I told her so! 

In the stack, both the blue silk pleated dress and the silver teardrop earrings I’m wearing to an event in late October. I can’t wait to wear my newest dress. WR promises to be her own work of art that night.

Though that masterpiece she stumbled upon today? Unrepeatable. And impossible to forget. (Looks like I’ve been watching too much of that brand of reality TV. Or maybe not enough?)

WR, I said to put that paint brush down!