Hot date!!

Well, today I had the most delightful date. Miss suzy Q No 1 (you may have been wondering why you've heard so little of her of late) is studying so hard at UCT that I almost never see her. With luck, I get a quick kiss as she sets off at 6.16 am, precisely, and see her when she gets home close to 10 pm, in a state of complete exhaustion. But this does seem to be counter balanced by a new sense of elation. This is not student life as I knew it (but then that's probably why I never made the grade) and I have been worrying, as a mother does, that she would crumble under the weight of all these demands and legal tomes. Not a damn, she's right up there, working like a Trojan, but getting admirable results. More than admirable actually, but being full to bursting with pride, I should try to temper this, before I bore you all to death. Ok, this is my baby, and she's holding her own against all those post grads in a brand new and challenging environment. Good for you my darling Miss SQ, SO proud of you, even though I miss seeing you around the house so much.

All this to say that today, on the first day of her first official vac, she invited me to join her for lunch at a trendy little place at 88 Campground road, Rondebosch called Michael's Restaurant and Deli, which everyone's apparently been talking about. 

She could manage this as she was doing a mere nine hours in the Law Library this beautiful Cape Monday. My day, to say the very least, had been a most stressful and exceedingly busy Monday, much more so than usual, but I shall spare you the details. However, doting mothers being what we are, I leapt at the opportunity to simply sit across a table from her and share an hour of uninterrupted conversation, and learn more about her brave new world. We both skidded in at 2.29 pm, being so well trained and mannered. Fortunately it was merely "a one song drive from campus" for her, somewhat further for me, but are not these the things we mothers do for love, gals?  I was as excited as a girl on her first date and we were both thrilled to see each other. (I hoped not just the prospect of my credit card.)  We checked out the place and ordered. I swear I smiled so sweetly at our seating hostess with the bright pink hair, and didn't once let my "you know what I'm thinking already" face show through. Since this was her choice, I shall decline to comment, other than to say it was worth it to have the pleasure of this growing woman's company all to myself for a rare change, but am I ever glad I never got to see the kitchen. Did I whisper a word of my well founded misgivings during our date? Not a chance, at risk of ruining a golden moment.

Miss SQ No 1 chatted enthusiastically about her studies, new friends, lecturers, fears and fatigue. Nineteen years ago I was entirely enslaved by her, suffering a similar fatigue and a brave new adventure, and whilst it was pure purgatory at the time, who could have envisaged a day like this, with such phenomenal growth from both sides? We had such a great laugh winding poor old Mr SQ up, as she pretended she was out on a hot date with a much older lecturer and friend of ours, who seems to have an eye for a fine young filly. I almost suspect he received a phone call and a tongue lashing warning him off Daddy's Darling.

It's been more than worth all the tough days, sleepless nights (both then and now) and constant sacrifice, to see my baby bloom!  I simply have to give thanks, and give you dear friends my very best Easter wishes. I will be taking a little break soon, as we have visitors in town and I'm sure that you will want a bit of Easter Egg hunt time too.

Lotsa love, and as always, thank you for taking the time to read me.


Suzy Q