He Be Trippin'.
Caitlin and Patrick haven't met yet. This will happen in Flagstaff after Team Caitliyn has driven 8 hours from Los Angeles on June 10th, +/- a stop in Las Vegas. As you may recall, Patrick originally told me he couldn't get trippy with me because he was working, so I asked her, which was a nod to a prior conversation we'd had when she left LA in November - wouldn't it be cool if we drove across the country together? HELL YEAH! But it just worked out better for her to fly, and I had work, etc., etc.
But I really wanted Patrick to come. Other than driving between Tucson and LA a few times, which is 8 hours each way, Patrick and I have never been on a road trip together. So I found a date that he could make it work. Of course, he voiced some reservations abut this.
Patrick: "Mom! I don't wanna be stuck in a car for 5 days with someone I've never met!"
Me: "It'll be fine. You two are on the same page politically and spiritually. It'll be fun! Caitlin's very chill."
This carried on for over the course of a week. I managed to be patient because I get it. New people, new situation. Yep. Been there, done that, burned the t-shirt.
Then about 10 days ago we had a breakthrough!
After the usual complains and reassurances, a minor miracle occurred. Five minutes later he calls me back. Never in his twenty years has he called me back that fast! "I talked to grandma.... You didn't tell me she's my age! Is she hot??"
"How would I know? I don't scope out my friends." My thoughts were someplace between "Seriously??" and "No surprise there".
So he changed his complaint. Also no surprise. "Well, I don't want to be stuck in the car for 5 days with someone complaining about my music the whole time." Quack, quack, quack!
The details weren't worth noting, but It's not clear why he thinks he gets to monopolize the radio. Rolling my eyes, I put on my parenting hat and we talked about how with a bad attitude, you can take a crappy situation and make it worse, and with a good one, you can take a bad situation and make it fun. I said' "If you really don't want to come, you don't have to. It's OK. We'll travel together another time."
That precipitated a change in his attitude. Not only did he quit grumbling, but he also asked to be put in touch with her so they could get to know each other before the trip. Smart boy! With Caitlin's permission as well, I sent them each other's contact info and picture and made suggestions about what to talk about.
The next hurdle arose. "Mom! Millenials don't talk on the phone."
I wanted to say something pithy and inspiring but the best I could come up with at that moment was "Don't be lame. Call her anyway." And then I backed off. They're smart. They'll figure it out.
And they did! They talked for an hour. :> I'm so proud! <Sniff sniff!>
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