Day 183 (Recall) Baby's Day(s)

The Baby Sister and I are 11 months apart. Aside from the fact that my parents were clearly getting it on as I was in the next room sleeping as an infant, we spend approximately 38 days every year being twins. 

In the past few years, the Baby Sister's birthday has always been a big event, with a lot of people and an excess of booze several doctors might deem as "unhealthy" or "dangerous." This year however, things were a little bit more mellow. I spent a crapload of money on buying the Baby Sister presents, makeup and perfume and, by the end of the day, I was just really not having any of it. Not because I spent a little over $400 on one outing alone, but because I was running on less than 4 hours of sleep.

So by the time it came to go out for her celebratory dinner, it took all of my willpower to simply drive out to the restaurant without turning the car around or pulling to the side of the road to take a power nap. Dinner was admittedly slightly awkward. See, The Baby's boyfriend, aka Billy, had recently returned from being stationed overseas in Afghanistan. And while I enjoy the brat's company (even though he clearly cheats at Scrabble), The Baby's friends...eh, not so much. 

Whether it's because the Baby spends a lot of time staying home to talk to Billy on Skype and thus doesn't go out as often with her friends, or because her best friends aren't used to the idea of the Baby being sober and in a [semi-]stable relationship that no one else can seem to acquire lately, dinner and the subsequent outing afterward was a completely different vibe than what it used to be in the past years. Not that I'm complaining, I actually don't mind things being done quieter especially with the day I'd had, but something like that...when I'm so used to raucous yelling and drinks being spilled and at least someone blacking out before midnight...I guess it just takes time to adjust to?

After dinner, we head out to a bar/club where they charge us up the ass just to get in but, at that point, I'm just tired and pissy and don't really give a fuck that I pay the cover for me and two other people just so I can get inside and get my hands on alcohol ASAP. The rest of the night is a happy little blur. Billy passes me a shot at some point that I can't even finish because the first half of it makes me want to throw up on the spot. I invest in a lot of refills for Tokyo Long Islands and smoke a ciggy, surprising myself by not throwing up with the first inhale. 

At some point, I leave. Later, I find out that this was around 2-3 am because that's around the time that I pulled up to Ricky's house...the same place I wake up hours later because I was so far gone that I literally knocked out once I came in. Realizing that it's better to stick at my friend's house rather than come home without the Baby, I knock out once more...only to wake up a few hours later, completely revitalized, to Ricky's mom smiling and hugging me despite me looking tore up from the floor up, asking if I'm hungry and would I like some breakfast?


...I can't decide if this is a fail or win but I hang out a little longer, grateful that I'd brought a change of clothes in the backseat of my car before heading home. 


I brace myself for the impact, for the high-pitched bitching and yelling and screaming from my parents, who are likely to cuss me out in their native tongue (even though they know full well that I can understand them). Instead, what do I get? Hugs and smiles and fucking kisses. But not just any kisses, mouth-kisses from my parents, who haven't given me such kisses since I was in elementary school. 

Asian-Love

And why are they in such a good mood even though neither of their Asian, Catholic daughters came home last night?


Because I bought them a spa and dinner date the night before for their 28th anniversary...And probably because, with neither of us home the night before, I'm fairly certain they made the beast with the two backs. I am both disgusted and relieved by this thought.


Written 5.30.11