when i was a little red headed girl, with curly hair still too short for even the tiniest of pigtails, my EDDIE would often stop by on his drive home from the office.  he’d come over unannounced and as he ascended the steep, brick staircase, i’d tear out the front door in my flannel nightgown, waiting impatiently on the landing next to the overgrown plum tree.  as he reached the top i would jump into his arms and he’d squeeze me tightly before setting me down gently and loosen his red tie from around his neck and say, i love you.

my EDDIE must have stopped by on his way home from work countless times.  i remember sitting with him on the edge of the bathtub as we all eagerly waited for SANDY to pee in the toilet and then all of us shouting hooray and my EDDIE placing the sticker on SANDY’S potty training chart.  i remember standing next to the phone as my EDDIE called my NANI to give her the update on his timing – i’ll be home in 20 minutes – he’d say – and i’m bringing dinner, and i love you.  and then he would call back because he forgotten to tell my NANI about SANDY and his sticker – and i love you, he’d say again, and hang up the phone.

and often it was fajitas.  my mom would pack up bowls – grated cheese in a bowl – diced tomatoes and cilantro in a bowl – chopped purple onions in a bowl – yellow and orange and red peppers in a bowl and tortillas and chicken – and it would all be placed in a bullocks shopping bag and as my EDDIE walked out the door he would grab the bag before kissing my keppe  – i love you.

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we made an offer on a house last week and it was accepted.  and while i am beyond excited about the open kitchen and the gorgeous backyard with mountain views and the separate bathtub and shower, i’m most excited that we will have space for my mom and dad to come and stay.  they were made to be grandparents and  it kills me that there is no stopping by on the way home from the office to pick up fajitas, but now i know they will be here to apply stickers to the potty training chart.

also, there’s a bidet – my NANI would be so happy.