Oscar and Mama's Excellent Adventure, Day 2, part 1

The next morning, I was awoken by a slobbery, bearded face. No, not Evan, Charley. Izzy thought it would be great fun to wake us up with her huge, slobbery, muddy dog. It was great fun. It also reminded me that I won't be owning a dog anytime soon.

Oscar and I snoozed a while longer while Robyn brought the kids to school. We eventually woke up and made our way to the Redwine's. Elizabeth had very graciously offered to host a brunch for Oscar and I, so we could catch up with locals friends and both our playgroups -- both the one that we were in when we first moved to NJ when Oscar was one. and the second, that Elizabeth and I formed when we we had our thirds (and in her case, fourth).

These are the women that were my best friends during the most trying point in my life. We had swapped late night emails about potty-training, sobbed to each other over our perceived inadequacies as parents and wives, formed dinner clubs, PTAs, book clubs and Cub Scout dens. We encouraged each other in when we decided to dip our toes back into working after parenting. We rallied 'round when our friends were ill, and were always available when someone needed 30 minutes to get a pap smear or attend a parent-teacher conference.

I miss these ladies more than I can say. I am really grateful for social media so we can stay in touch.

I took lots of pictures and of course, lost them all with my phone.

Lucy's best friend, Audrey, showed up with her mom, Christina. She was sobbing from a fall on the stairs and just the very sight of her made me cry. When she calmed down and remembered who I was, I told her that Lucy calls her on her princess phone every single day and chats with her. Lucy really, really misses Audrey. Seeing her made me sob.

Oscar was a great sport during all of this. None of the kids that were there was his friends; they were all Lucy's pals or the younger siblings. Luckily, my boys are really good with little kids, and he was a star, submitting to endless hugs from the moms of his old friends and gently hanging with the little guys.

I'm afraid that if I list the names that were there, I'll forget someone. But every single person that was there was someone who meant so much to me, and also had a reunion with beloved friends who they hadn't seen in a while. Once your kids go off to different preschools, and elementary  schools, and sports and art classes, it's hard to stay touch with the friends that you love but can't manage to work into your daily life. I am so grateful to my friend Elizabeth for hosting so we could all get together again.

Ladies, I love you. I carry the lessons that you taught me and that we learned together every single day.

After that, Oscar and I went to the Trat. We sat down, Oscar demolished an adult portion of cheese ravioli, and I demolished a plain slice and a slice of calamari. We people watched and saw every single crazy person that walks the streets in South Orange, and I wanted to hug them all.

Calamari pizza. The perfect amount of tomato, cheese, and chewy.