You are looking at Bossy’s teenage daughter, yesterday, on the first day she was allowed to ride in the front seat, because even though she is the teenage daughter of two rangy parents born to rangy parents born to mostly rangy parents, Bossy’s daughter is a shrimp.
Bossy has been waiting and waiting until her daughter reached an acceptable height and weight to conform with regional seat belt standards and yes Bossy can talk just like a state trooper when it’s required.
But back to this week: Bossy realized she was all boo-hoo Bossy’s son is back in college when suddenly she looked down over and saw her daughter pal, with only one week remaining until she is swallowed by a yellow school bus.
And so Bossy took some time away from her computer this week to hang out with said funny sunny one, and it went a little like this:
They watched TV. Lots of crazy TV with silly TV on the side. The kind of TV that made Bossy’s husband declare things like, “If you keep watching this show I’m going to have to leave the room,” which made Bossy and her daughter shrug a little while keeping their eyes trained on the screen.
When not shrugging, Bossy and her daughter moved outside to enjoy the prettiest late summer weather Bossy can remember. One day Bossy and her daughter went to the local track because Bossy’s daughter wanted to learn how to jog — and here’s the method for building up distance tolerance as taught to Bossy by her father: walk for 100 paces and then jog for 100 paces and then walk for 100 paces and then jog for 100 paces and then walk for 100 paces to your local grocery co-op for a triple chocolate fudgsicle.
Next Bossy and her daughter took a day trip to the beach, accompanied by Bossy’s friend Martha and the Artist Formerly Known As Pool Urchin.
While Bossy’s daughter read and the pool urchin played sea urchin and Bossy’s friend Martha poured wet sand around the base of her flimsy vinyl umbrella, Bossy lay on her back and watched the clouds, which were made very dramatic by sustained wind:
And as Bossy lay there on her back under her very unflimsy extra large UVA-protected canvas umbrella, she thought about things, such as the man reading in his beach chair, and if that man knew there was a sleeping man hanging directly over his head:
When the aforementioned sustained wind became too much to bear, which was approximately thirty minutes before Bossy hit the beach, the group packed up their stuff and retreated to the boardwalk where the Artist Formerly Known as Pool Urchin played skeeball and Bossy’s daughter finally got her tattoo.
And then Bossy came up with a new beach day plan imposed by the
gah-less wind and the tyrannical limits of her spending freeze — and that’s how it came to be that the foursome drove to a more exclusive beach community where they ate lobster tails and played miniature golf and drank wine, not necessarily in that order:
And then yesterday, Bossy strapped her daughter into the front passenger seat of her Honda and the two took off for a day in the city, where they purchased Bossy’s daughter’s ballet slippers and then enjoyed a lite bite. Dear Bossy’s husband: spent money doesn’t count when you employ cutesy misspellings.
And finally, to round out Bossy’s hooker hooky week, Bossy and her daughter slipped into a late afternoon movie, sharing a popcorn — where sharing equals they each purchased their own because sharing popcorn is too romantic for the hungry.
Leslie B says
September 4, 2009 at 10:38 amThis is my idea of a perfect week! I tried these sorts of adventures with my kid pals all summer and missed my adventure pals this week now that school is back in session.
Ellie says
September 4, 2009 at 10:42 amIs that a day in Philadelphia? Or a day in heaven?
Sheryl W says
September 4, 2009 at 10:42 amLooks like Hooky was well spent, Bossy’s daughter will remember it for a very long time.
Bossy's Daughter says
September 4, 2009 at 10:49 ammaybe not for THAT long… wait-bossy? what movie did we see?
Bossy's Daughter says
September 4, 2009 at 10:50 amjust kidding, i had a great time.
wait- 500 days of Spring? or Winter? oh wait- maybe Autumn. No WAIT! definitely Summer. yes thats it- 500 Days of summer. cool.
BOSSY says
September 4, 2009 at 10:59 amWas it really 500 days of Summer, Bossy’s daughter? It doesn’t look right, but anyway, you always were better at math than your mother.
Lauren says
September 4, 2009 at 11:04 amThat sounds like so much fun. I can’t wait to have kids!
Gail K. says
September 4, 2009 at 11:20 amI see a hamster head by the sleeping guy in the clouds stomach. Anyone care to interpret that for me?
I think I need a hooky week with Bossy.
RuthWells says
September 4, 2009 at 11:25 amLook at the long legs on L’il Bossy — I don’t think she’ll be a shrimp much longer!
joie says
September 4, 2009 at 11:28 amI wish I had had a mom like you. Bossy’s daughter is some kind of lucky.
Almudena says
September 4, 2009 at 11:32 amSomeone please take me on hooky week. I can’t promise I will be as funny or sunny but I will tv-watch and eat and read and sun-bathe and shop and cloud-interpret and jog…okay maybe not jog…but i will let you take my picture! anyone???
Ms. Cranky Pants says
September 4, 2009 at 11:48 amhooky is the best. I’m personally striving for 500 days of hooky.
mini van bohemian says
September 4, 2009 at 12:12 pmLucky! Lucky Mom. Lucky kid! What a nice time.
Debby says
September 4, 2009 at 12:23 pmAwww, nice week, time well spent Bossy! ~waves to Stella~ who I have missed madly
Angie F says
September 4, 2009 at 12:27 pmLOVE this post! I want to see Bossy’s daughter’s Henna tattoo! It may be the kind I get since I don’t know if I’m tough enough for a “real” one!
Martie says
September 4, 2009 at 12:27 pmI looove “daughter and me” days. My oldest daughter is 18. She is, sooooo growing away from me. I tug her back on occasion by bribing her with ‘THE MALL’ or ‘a MEAL’. and the giggles and laughter we share are better than a chocolate molten lava brownie… delicious.
Well Read hostess says
September 4, 2009 at 12:27 pmNo offense to my own mother, and not to imply that you are in any way shape or form old enough to be my mother – because you are not – but could you adopt me?
Also, what do you after the walk 100 run 100? What’s the next step?
MarathonMom says
September 4, 2009 at 12:31 pmBossy’s carpe diem makes us all better people!
Cactus Petunia says
September 4, 2009 at 12:43 pmBossy is excused!
D says
September 4, 2009 at 1:09 pmThanks for outlining the sleeping man ’cause I didn’t see it – and HOW did you notice it – my eyes were stuck on the guy reading his newspaper!
Monnik says
September 4, 2009 at 1:33 pmLove the sleeping man cloud! Sounds like a great few days with each other…
Leah says
September 4, 2009 at 1:38 pmI love it! I so hope Bossy’s daughter knows how great her mom is for carving out so much together/bonding time! She looks pretty darn happy and disturbingly well-adjusted, so I guess she does! Good job, Momma!
joeinvegas says
September 4, 2009 at 1:43 pmNice post – thanks for letting us spend some time with you!
Sheri says
September 4, 2009 at 1:54 pmThis sounds like it was a fabulous week and makes Sheri wish she could turn back the hands of time just a bit so that her daughter won’t be 19, but 13, and they could do stuff like this!
tracey says
September 4, 2009 at 2:09 pmI love these pictures. So sweet and touching…
reen says
September 4, 2009 at 2:17 pm1.) Could there be a more perfect end-of-summer hooky week? No. No, there could not.
2.) Bossy’s Daughter has inherited Bossy’s gift for writing hilarious things!
Grizzly Kitteh says
September 4, 2009 at 3:28 pmLooks like a lot of fun! What movie did you see?
Amber says
September 4, 2009 at 4:07 pmI love this! I can only hope that my daughter will like spending time with me when she’s older…the way your daughter does. Lucky girls, both of you!
BTW, sweet…you drive stick
Ginny says
September 4, 2009 at 4:14 pmBossy and Bossy daughter made my day happy, Thanks.
MemeGRL says
September 4, 2009 at 4:32 pmI am giggling because that is the third picture I’ve seen today of that exact same hair wrap/henna tattoo place. And we were there yesterday and I was talking my kids out of having monsters henna’ed on to their arms. I was almost hoping I’d lose the argument until I remembered they are FIVE and FOUR and need something to look forward to.
Kathy says
September 4, 2009 at 5:03 pmI’m so jealous! My daughter has been back in school for two weeks already and is drowning in AP homework. And, of course, we’ve had hot, lovely weather ever since school started. Enjoy your last couple of days!
The Great Getzby says
September 4, 2009 at 5:18 pmWarms my heart.
Carrie says
September 4, 2009 at 5:40 pmI love it.
You inspire me to have this much fun with my daughter’s.
Oh, and they will be in a booster at least until they are 12. Who knows about the front seat….
21st Century Housewife says
September 4, 2009 at 7:24 pmD.C. waves enthusiastically back: “Hiya, Bossy!!”
I love to go on dates with my kids, too! Your daughter is the same age as my youngest urchin — she looks like a great date!
Lori says
September 4, 2009 at 11:47 pmMy almost teen has those same shades in bright yellow and we also like to watch tv. We had a ‘Charmed’ marathon during which she got tired of me saying, “stay away from demons (boys), avoid warlocks (boys) and why aren’t you my baby anymore”
Oh, and she drew her tatoo on her left hand with a sharpy 
Lis says
September 5, 2009 at 2:14 amIt wasn’t until you mentioned the ballet slippers that it really hit home…I have the most wonderful memories of hanging out with my mom at the end of summer, school shopping, going to lunch and buying my ballet slippers at Capezio. Those beautiful, pink leather slippers.
By playing hook(er)y, Bossy has created memories for Bossy’s daughter that will last a lifetime. Bravo!
Melanie @ Mel, A Dramatic Mommy says
September 5, 2009 at 2:15 amThis is one of those times I wish there was a little girl in the house. Mother/son time is great, but just not the same as mother/daughter. I live vicariously through you.
The Domestic Goddess says
September 5, 2009 at 6:58 amCloud people! Fun!
helen says
September 5, 2009 at 12:08 pmWish I could go back in time with my grown up daughter and do stuff like this. You all are blessed! Nosy me wants to know what kind of vehicle your daughter is in. I am saving/shopping for something and that interior looks just like what I am aiming for!
After decades of spying shapes in clouds, I still find it such fun to do with my grand-kidlets. Oh, the little things in life really can bring us joy~~~~~~~~~~~
josh says
September 5, 2009 at 2:51 pmYour daughter is soooo sweeeeet! Aw! And I LURRRVE her neon green lentes de sol! Playing hookie is for def def defferz a necessity sometimez.
PS, that beach man was effing sexxxercopterz! Fan me, dahlin’…I’m burning up!
amy says
September 5, 2009 at 10:09 pmYour daughter is so pretty and looks like such a sweetheart. Good for you for playing hooker with her
That handsome guy on the beach was lovely eye candy, thanks.
amy says
September 5, 2009 at 10:11 pmBTW put pic of Bossy Daughter running as my screen saver so tomorrow I can remember 100 steps walking/100 steps running. Great advice.
Momo Fali says
September 6, 2009 at 7:45 amGreat. Now my daughter wants you to be her mother. Thanks for setting the bar too high, Bossy!
Brittany says
September 6, 2009 at 9:43 amThis made me cry. My daughter is 15 months old and her carseat still faces backwards, but I don’t ever want her to be 13 and ride in the front seat and yet I can’t wait for her to be 13 and ride in the front seat. Soooo bittersweet.
bossy's friend martha's sister says
September 6, 2009 at 9:28 pmI so wanted to steal Martha’s flip flops…. the golf pict reminded me of that fact… and in the track pict is that you rubbing your…. up against the railing???
Adorable Girlfriend says
September 7, 2009 at 11:26 amA henna tat? Mom! I want a real one. Now!!!
Reeb says
September 7, 2009 at 1:01 pmA college man writing “warms my heart” about his mom and little sis warms my heart.
thatgirlblogs says
September 7, 2009 at 7:22 pmthis hooking didn’t help because I still miss (stories about) bossy’s son. but, henna tattoos sound fun and yes, popcorn please. oh and next time you play hookers I need to see more pics with bossy in them, because I SUSPECT she was in character? yes? little red rouge, maybe?
jessica says
September 8, 2009 at 12:40 amwhat a fantastic day. Your daughter is adorable. Mine is six and spending the day with her is really a blast
Bush Babe says
September 8, 2009 at 8:09 amGreat absentee note Bossy!! You are excused…
Is the Great Getzby Bossy’s Son?? Honestly, it’s like CSI Bossy trying to work out who is who in the zoo here!!!
BB
PS HEllllloooooo Stella!!
David says
September 8, 2009 at 4:41 pmThe things I would have thought of regarding the man reading in his beach chair are probably unprintable.
runnergirl says
September 8, 2009 at 8:15 pmawesome week!!!! When are we hanging out?
auntie says
September 10, 2009 at 11:52 pmthis post made me smile all over!!