Two Pieces of String

I have written in here before that me and my mom have one of those classic mother-daughter realtionships, where we drive each other NUTS. I'd like to blame it all on her, but sometimes I catch how unbelievably ADOLESCENT I get when I am around her. I all but roll my eyes dramatically and cry out "SHU 'UP!" Like every California teenage girl of the 1980's.

When I was in my twenties, I was so busy being wronged and tormented by her that I neglected to notice how much I tormented her. Now we are like that old image of two porcupines trying to embrace. We do it carefully.

Today, I sent her this postcard because it's an old joke between us. The joke itself is one of those jokes that is so bad you don't laugh. I cannot remember how it started, but years ago, when I was in high school, and I would call her and swear the world was coming to an end, my mom would quietly start telling this joke. It would make me CRINGE and then I would roll my eyes and say SHU'UP!

Now, this joke has taken on a life of its own. I've said it to my brother in moments of crisis and so has she, and it makes us all WRIGGLE and WRITHE so much that we can't help but laugh and feel better. Each of us likes to pull it out when everyone least expects it. So today I sent one to each of them. I didn't sign it, but somehow, I think they'll get the joke.