The apple doesn't fall far from the tree

Growing up I always wanted to fall as far away from my tree as I could. And, every time my mother said this quote to me it was a reminder that I was not going to be like them. Not that they were terrible people, because quite frankly I have the best parents in the world...but because who wants to be like their parents anyways? Becoming like them signifies aging and beginning to wear socks with sandels, and going to bed at 7:30pm after watching NCIS on dvr.

When we were children my sister, brother and I used to give my mother some healthy ribbing from time to time - which I'm sure we learned from my father. Which by the way was always something I admired about my mother, her ability to brush off things that did not matter. She has a great ability to support those she loves through think and thin. Maybe that is why she became a nurse. Anyways, there are a few things that my mother did that we liked to joke about: take extreme caution when eating dinner, and also her ability to cry at Zale's commercials.

My family and I, while all sitting around the dinner table (which did not happen very often), would count the chews that my mother took with each bite - out loud. Can you imagine it? 4 people all looking at you and counting in unison as you ate a steak? I would have had an aneurysm. First of all...that's annoying. And second, what...a waste, of a good steak. I think that is why I eat fast; no need to give anyone chance to make fun of me.

I recall watching the movie, My Dog Skip, with my mother when I was in high school. At the end of the movie, I started to hear small gasps for breath coming from the direction of my mother. There she was, lips pursed together trying to contain her sobs, face pink, eyes red and tears flowing as though they had been flowing for hours before I realized it. Of course I laughed, but only because I was dumbfounded at how someone could have such an emotional reaction to the passing of a fictional dog. I would expect ONE tear rolling down the cheek, but not all out bawling as though your first born has just died. It's not like we had a family pet that was around for 20 years - she couldn't even draw from life experiences.

In my old age, I am noticing more and more things that are leading me to believe I have fallen right under that apple tree. Which, let's be honest...isn't such a bad thing. However last weekend the strangest thing happened to me, and I was appalled. I was watching the movie, Life As A House. Have you ever seen it? Seriously watch it...I own it :) Meaning, this was not the first time that I have seen this movie - it just happened to be on TV so I partook. Anyways, it got to the part where the son finishes the house without the father because he is physically unable to. I felt that my lips were pursed together and I was having a hard time breathing. All of a sudden I just couldn't hold it anymore. I began crying like my first born child had passed away. And, I. Mean. Sobbing. No one was there, so I just cried it out. And at then end, I laughed, because I was dumbfounded at how someone can be so like their mother.

But, I pulled from real life experiences...so I have an excuse. I have always wanted to build my own home overlooking the beach :)