Let's get started: My perspective

That's really a picture of me. REALLY it is. Tim has been bugging me to no end to give everyone a different perspective of Grandma. So here goes…”Grandma” as seen through the eyes of her daughter.

Mom and I have lived together forever. This has been a very interesting relationship. Let me tell you of a general day in my life with “Grandma.”

A typical day begins with Mom sleeping away. Usually, she has just gone to bed a few hours earlier after being up half the night playing one game or another. If it is not the newest RPG game then it is poker. She speaks of her Xbox friends quite often. I go to work; the children head off to school. I do not know what she does while I am at work but I do know if the game is good, I am cooking dinner. She will call me at work on occasion to ask if I gave permission to one child or another to go with their friends. Mom is very street smart and usually knows when the kids are trying to pull a fast one. Or, just being a sweet Mom, will bring me lunch.

Usually, when I get home from work she is sitting in her recliner playing a game. I never know what system she will be playing. This depends on the game. She swears there are great games for each system. It just depends on what you like. It is a little funny that she knows so much about each system. As the children were growing up, she knew what system should be purchased for which child. This child likes sports; he should have this system. This child likes RPGs he should have that system. Of course she will only allow them to play their games if homework is done and they have been outside for a while. And no children are permitted to play her games without her permission. This is taboo. A definite do not go there type of thing. If, as a child, you want to see your young adult years, do not ever touch one of “Grandmas” games or her memory cards.

She may sit in her recliner for hours at a time playing a game. Headphones on. (I really like those. She hasn’t blown any TV speakers since getting them. She is very hard of hearing. Have you ever tried watching a movie with a game on in the next room, full volume? You really get to hate the background music.) The only reason for Mom to get up would be to go the restroom. Question, is it old age or all those diet cokes that make one go so frequently.

If she has played all the games she is interested in and nothing is out she wants she will dabble in some of her other hobbies. These include reading, painting, ceramics, card playing and our old time favorite shopping.

Mom and I used to spend hours and hours at the mall. This has been shortened quite a bit because of her back and legs. It is easy to spend hours at the mall with Mom. First we hit the clothing store of my choice, then a game store of hers, another clothing store of my choice, and a bookstore for both of us then coffee! A nice tall Grande Skinny Mocha Cappuccino with an extra shot of espresso. Mmmm, that sounds good. I think I will fix one when I’m done writing.

If she is not off doing one of her hobbies and the gaming is good let me give you a few examples of what you may hear.
If you were to listen to the two of us it we reverse roles quite a bit.

Mom is in her game room playing some RPG game where people are gathered in a semi-circle bouncing their knees. Can anyone tell me why the characters do that? Tim tried explaining but it seems just plain silly to me. Suddenly you see Mom’s leg go up in the air, controller and arms flying. That stupid fucking bitch killed me. “Mom” I quietly complain. “No, you don’t understand. I have spent hours getting to this point only to have that bitch kill me. Now I have to start in some village or something somewhere.”

“Mom, it is 12:00 a.m., Kenny has to get up to go to school tomorrow,” I state in that motherly tone. “Just a few more minutes, I can’t get through this part it hurts my hands. We have almost made it.”

Mom is walking across the house, in pain. The “f” word is mumbled every other step. “Oh mom, why can’t you be like grandma and moan yoi or something?” But this is mom. It is simply her way of speech.

The roles reverse.

I come home from work and a beautiful, elaborate dinner is prepared. The children are thrilled. “Grandma” is a fantastic cook. It is the good old fashioned, very fattening Hungarian way of cooking. Cholesterol is there, carbs are there, and life is good.

“Linda (that’s me). Do you have my DS upstairs? How many times have I told you, if you are going to play my game, put it back?” I must admit, we are both addicted to Brainage. If I have missed a day of training and the professor shakes his head, I feel really guilty.

I am sitting in the living room playing the game Katamari. Trying desperately for the hundredth time to catch one of the cousins, when of course I fail. A few words too bad to mention escape my mouth. My daughter catches me. “Mom, you just said a bad word.” “No I didn’t. I said gosh darn.” “No mom. You said the really bad word.” “Shush, don’t tell your grandma.”

It is now 1:00 a.m., I am done reading or playing some game on the computer and Mom is just getting started. She is really on a role in her game room discussing different game methods, etc. with Tim. I understand only half of what they are discussing. They talk about all the friends they have made through the blog and how excited they are that they are going to be meeting a few at the convention. I think this is one of the things that have them so hyped about going. Me, I’m going to bed.