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Broccoli World

04/03/04

Broccoli World

Permalink 09:55:00 pm by cassie, Categories: Announcements [A]

Sometimes, when I was young, maybe three, or four, or maybe five or six, my family (or what there was of us at the time) would be driving home from my Yiayia?s late on a Sunday night, probably even at such an hour as nine PM, if you can imagine it. We may as well have just pulled an all-nighter, if we were to go that far. I remember it mostly in the summertime, when it was my favorite kind of day ? rainy with a semi-clear sky and warm, so you could play in the rain. I liked (and still like) those types of days so much that usually when it rains during the summer, I?m the first one to go out barefoot and stand in it for a while. We would be riding in the van way in the backmost seat, because that was the favorite, and the rain made the flowers outside grow, yes, but, even better, it made the pavement glisten under the streetlamps. You could see the rain churning the Merrimack River up and the lights of the city and the riverside homes sending ripples of reflected light onto it, and I could lay my left cheek onto the cool of the window, jarring slightly over the roads as we drove, and see the rain splashing almost onto my face, if it were not for the glass there. My parents would be sitting there far away at the front of the van, holding hands as my Dad drove, and I never felt tired.

We?d drive past our street, and we?d all ask where we were going. ?Are we going to get a treat?? My Father would always say that we were going to Broccoli Land. That meant that we were going for a longer ride so that we, the kids, would fall asleep. I picked up on that one pretty quickly. I never could fall asleep in the car, but I?d fake it, my head pressed against the window, leaning on the armrest, with my legs tucked under me up on the seat. I?d close my eyes and it was my deepest hope that I?d be able to fake it well enough to hear my parents start talking quietly to themselves, laughing together about stories of what happened during the day and which one of us kids did something stupid, and I wanted to be almost asleep so that I could feel, with my eyes closed, the turns the car needed to take as we drove home, and that finally, anticipating it, I could feel my body lurch forward into the driveway of my home. I loved hearing my parents talk together like best friends. Like they were still fifteen. I always wanted to be good enough at feigning sleep that I could feel my Dad?s or Mum?s hand on my head, saying, ?Wake up, Cass. We?re home.? And we always were.

This weekend my parents are away for their anniversary. It is their twentieth.

44 comments

Comment from: Crystal [Visitor]
CrystalGorgeous. Simply...
04/04/04 @ 07:19
Comment from: dave [Visitor]
daveThat's awesome, Cassie.
04/04/04 @ 12:32
Comment from: Jen [Visitor]
JenCool :-)
04/04/04 @ 15:30
Comment from: Mark [Visitor]
MarkVeddy nahce. :)
04/04/04 @ 21:01
Comment from: Sarah [Visitor]
SarahI've seen you fall asleep in the car. And you're REALLY asleep, and not just faking it. I know cuz you snore.
04/05/04 @ 04:03
Comment from: Cassie [Visitor]
CassieYou are such a liar, woman.
04/05/04 @ 14:43
Comment from: Cassie [Visitor]
CassieAnd you tell me life-destroying secrets when you're half asleep at six AM, so there. :P
04/05/04 @ 14:43
Comment from: Chaz [Visitor]
ChazYea Sarah you come too our house too much.
04/05/04 @ 15:14
Comment from: Chaz [Visitor]
ChazYou know too many things... O well you can leave the money at the door with me...
04/05/04 @ 15:15
Comment from: Heidi [Visitor]
Heidiaww that made me cry. i wanna be best friends still w/ my husband (whoever he be) when we've been married for what seems like forever and a day.
04/05/04 @ 16:08
Comment from: [Visitor]
Let me give you some of my recordings of "Sarah, 3:30 AM; Influence: Car stories"
04/05/04 @ 16:08
Comment from: [Visitor]
Would those be The Watergate recordings? Hee.
04/05/04 @ 16:35
Comment from: [Visitor]
Oh my.
04/05/04 @ 17:13
Comment from: Sarah [Visitor]
SarahCan you tell, people, that I struck a nerve? People always lash out in fear. :P I'll have you know that my threethirtiness is the reason some guy's gonna wanna live with me forever. He wouldn't be able to stand the suspense of not being there to hear what comes out of my mouth in the morning. My dad's a night person, and my mom's a morning person, so I stay up late studying and talk really fast incoherently in the morning.
04/05/04 @ 17:15
Comment from: Cassie [Visitor]
CassieWhatever, Sar, whatever. I don't think the threethirtiness is why some guy'll stay with you forever. :P And I only posted thoseposts with my name ascribed to them, so let's not get punchy. :)
04/05/04 @ 17:39
Comment from: Cassie [Visitor]
CassieOn the other hand, if you want to take it outside, maybe we could work something out. I think you've been whining too much lately.
04/06/04 @ 10:36
Comment from: Sarah [Visitor]
SarahHey. I don't need to come here and take this abuse. How about I go outside and you stay here.
04/06/04 @ 10:37
Comment from: Cassie [Visitor]
CassieLike you wouldn't be back apologizing in two minutes...
04/06/04 @ 10:38
Comment from: Sarah [Visitor]
SarahM&Q, Cass. M&Q.
04/06/04 @ 10:40
Comment from: Cassie [Visitor]
CassieFor the record, Barry R. Q. wrote the last two posts ascribed to my name, thankyouverymuch.
04/06/04 @ 13:09
Comment from: Andrew [Visitor]
AndrewSarah said: "I'll have you know that my threethirtiness is the reason some guy's gonna wanna live with me forever. He wouldn't be able to stand the suspense of not being there to hear what comes out of my mouth in the morning." No, most people can guess that in the first 10 minutes of being with you.
04/06/04 @ 14:00
Comment from: Martini [Visitor]
MartiniI am not related to these people. ;) Your folks must be so young, Cass. And still in love. How awesome. I want it, I want it for myself and my hubby. I feel sometimes like I would do anything to hold the love of a good man. Other days I wonder - will I make the same mistakes as those around me, those closest to me, and get so comfortable with my partner that I no longer choose to give 100% to keep his love? My boss, C, is one of the most awesome professionals I know. Her hubby impresses me, too. They're so far from perfect, but they love eachother and you can see it in action. He makes her lunches and calls her at work and says sappy things to her at office parties. She laughs at his dumbest jokes and tells people he's the best guy and gives me advice like, "If you want to be happy, don't marry for money. Marry a guy from your church." Which is rather like what she did. ;) She's Catholic. He's Protestant. Who said the two can't coexist? ;)
04/06/04 @ 15:07
Comment from: Chaz [Visitor]
ChazIm never gonna get a wife... Seeing my sister wont let any girls near me and seeing that most girls are quite smelly (not all of em though) ;p Heh
04/06/04 @ 17:25
Comment from: Sarah [Visitor]
SarahHA! I'll take you! And we'll only invite Andrew over for major family holidays. [You wish you were related. I am, by way of cheese.]
04/06/04 @ 19:25
Comment from: Sarah [Visitor]
Sarah"He makes her lunches and calls her at work and says sappy things to her at office parties. She laughs at his dumbest jokes and tells people he's the best guy..." Martini, that's the best. That's an SBSWITIW...one of those some-boring-schmuck-who-I-think-is-wonderfuls. Sappiness and dumb jokes and lunches somebody else made for you are the best things in life! And all the books say a romantic is someone who gives you roses on Valentine's Day. No thanks - I'll take the daisies Mr. Anganes brings home to his wife on random Tuesday evenings along with the quiet conversation while he rubs her feet on the couch. True love is less effort to amaze and surprise with big things and more to do unexpected little things.
04/06/04 @ 19:30
Comment from: Chaz [Visitor]
ChazSarah you dont wanna get messed up with a guy like me... Im a rebel. I only state the refrance of the verse before, not after oooo im bad.
04/07/04 @ 08:34
Comment from: mark [Visitor]
markI usually give the reference before. Because I always forget it if I attempt to say it after. And oh yeah Chahls. Your choice in tracksuits just screams rebel, doesn't it? James Dean, watchyoback. ;)
04/07/04 @ 10:09
Comment from: Heidi [Visitor]
Heidiahh, too many rebels without causes.
04/07/04 @ 12:34
Comment from: Chaz [Visitor]
ChazLoL im likeing the track suit look I think it works with my style (if I have one) ;p
04/07/04 @ 12:51
Comment from: Mark [Visitor]
MarkHe does too have a cause, Heedsy. Unisex velour apparel for the masses. And what cause is more important that? Aside from like. World peace. And the Pro-Life thing. You know. Stuff like that.
04/07/04 @ 15:47
Comment from: martini [Visitor]
martiniEveryone has a style. Some of those styles just stink, that's all. ;) That's an SBSWITIW... Which, Sarah, is precisely what I wouldn't mind too much getting if I could, please God. Amen.
04/07/04 @ 16:23
Comment from: Martini [Visitor]
MartiniWhich is not to say Sarah is God. *laughs*
04/07/04 @ 16:24
Comment from: Sarah [Visitor]
Sarah*laughs at Martini* I should hope not. You'd all be in a lot of trouble, and not just because I'm still learning forgiveness! Chaz, I'll take my chances.
04/07/04 @ 18:15
Comment from: Chaz [Visitor]
ChazYoud better not...
04/07/04 @ 18:21
Comment from: B.R.Quinn [Visitor]
B.R.Quinn01:09pm - tuesday, 6th april For the record, Barry R. Q. wrote the last two posts ascribed to my name, thankyouverymuch. Again for the record: I most certainly did NOT make those posts, nor any others except those which bear the proud name of "B.R. Quinn." Though I might have, had I thought of it.
04/08/04 @ 06:48
Comment from: cassie [Visitor]
cassiesarah fessed to have posted those herself, because she obviously has no homework to do because she's so smart that she always gets as without even trying. ;p
04/08/04 @ 07:51
Comment from: Andrew [Visitor]
AndrewOr because she needs an ego boost by making you look bad
04/08/04 @ 11:22
Comment from: Mark [Visitor]
MarkOr...darn. Can't think of anything.
04/08/04 @ 13:19
Comment from: Cassie [Visitor]
CassieA valiant effort. *wry smile*
04/08/04 @ 15:35
Comment from: Sarah [Visitor]
SarahNo. Andrew's right. I'm jealous of your prosperity, so I slime you behind your back. Or maybe my subservient nature needed something else to apologize for. Or... [yeah, Mark. I know how you feel.]
04/09/04 @ 12:55
Comment from: martini [Visitor]
martiniYoud better not... Yeah, because you've got too much competition. Wait. You can handle competition. There has to be another reason... *think, think, think* (If anyone dares make references to a certain orange bear, I'm going to... do something violent.) I love these smilies for our names, Cass. I want some. Hey, Cass. Wanna see pics of a Living History ball? Wanna see some real Prince Charmings? (Or Confederate Officers. Whichever you choose. ;) I'll email you the link if you do.)
04/09/04 @ 13:26
Comment from: Sarah [Visitor]
SarahOoooooooh! There is WAY too much South online to say those things! :P
04/09/04 @ 14:48
Comment from: Cassie [Visitor]
CassieOh yeah, Marti. I'm always game for these sorts of things. :) Oh yes.. my prosperity, Sar. I had forgotten about that. nyuknyuknyuk.
04/09/04 @ 15:49
Comment from: mom of chaz [Visitor]
mom of chazdrop the "e" then add "ing" homeschooling dropout!
04/10/04 @ 11:41
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I like to multi-task: wife, writer, nurse, Christian, ne'er do well. I do all with equal gusto.

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