An Aristocratic Nose

My mother just called me into her room. She just had major surgery and as the last child to leave the nest I'm stuck in the dining room trying to write a paper on ASEM (something I still couldn't tell you anything about) waiting for the undeniable "Emmmm" which will come from the next room when she needs something.

I need to clear something up. I love my mother, she is in fact, one of my best friends. But she is also the worst in the world when it comes to compliments.

"Emmm"
"Yeah Mom?"
"Come here, I just, I have to read this to you"

My mother has just started reading "Eat, Pray, Love" a book that is taking suburban housewives by storm as well as post-surgical bored mothers. Apparently the authors description of herself as a "flamingo" reminded her of me.

Years ago, I was laying in bed next to my mother, talking about boys, cat allergies, friends at school, the usual. When she paused and looked at me. Expecting a comment about how "grown up I had become" I waited for the expected motherly compliment that though equatable to "my mom thinks I'm cool!" still makes me happy.

"You have a very aristocratic nose"

I'm fairly certain no one goes into a plastic surgeons office asking for an aristocratic nose.

Thanks Dad for that...