Driving Celebration

Tonight as I was going to a meeting Carter texted me from basketball before practice started. “Do you need me to stop at the store on my way home?” It was a new feeling for me; a child who is offering to do the shopping.

Since Carter turned 16 on Sunday she had to wait one day to get her drivers license. This morning I picked her up from school during her free period and she went and took her test. Despite a scary test giving DMV employee she passed. After she dropped me off at home and drove herself back to school all alone for the very first time.

Around 7:45 Carter walked in the kitchen with the grocery bags and a bouquet of roses. “I got you these to thank you for taking me to get my license.” Having her offer to do the shopping was gift enough, but the flowers almost made me cry. I guess she really is grown up enough to have her license.

Now that I am not needed to drop off at school or go and wait around at basketball I am planning on having way more fun in my life. It was a good thing she passed her test today because I already have my calendar packed with fun of all kinds. Of course it helps that it is the holiday social season.

Right after Carter dropped me off at home I had to change and get ready to go to my friend Mary Eileen’s 50th birthday lunch at our friend Kathi’s house. Everything was just beautiful, especially her table and the cake I was forced to have in celebration.

After lunch it was time to rush home to prepare for my garden club’s annual Christmas auction and lunch that is being held at my house tomorrow. The decorating was done days ago, but I needed to set up the serving table, drinks station and make the food. The extra hour I gained from not having to do school pick up or stop by the grocery store was well needed.

Carter asked me if I was ever going to get up in the morning ever again, now that she was driving herself. The idea of sleeping in sounds great, but it is going to have to wait at least a week. After tomorrow’s lunch, I am hosting another on Friday and third on Monday. Three big parties in six days is going to require me to get up early everyday, but not having to drive means I can actually pull it off. Thanks Carter for passing your test, but mostly for being such a sweet daughter.