Several times I have been out with my brother and he has had to explain my presence. Let me begin by saying this, my brother is a handsome man, tall slim and usually well dressed.
He took me to mass one evening and the priest was all long silences and meaningful pauses. He strung the service out for over an hour and there was no singing! I was ready to leave, it had been a long day, my back ached and I was hungry.
“No,” my brother warned as I was walking out, “you can’t go yet, there are lots of single Mums who are dying to know who the attractive woman I’m with is.”
“Let’s leave them wondering,” I suggested but we headed for the narthex anyway.
Being introduced as a sister after many years is really rather humbling! I’ve been a wife and a mother, a daughter-in-law and a sister-in-law, but not a sister! I enjoyed the sound of it, I rose to the occasion and smiled adoringly at my younger brother, I vowed to take the responsibility of it seriously and I embraced the reality of it.
The women went home satisfied that Vincent was still eligible.
“Do we not have any familial resemblance?” he mused. I think we do.
Last night we went out to talk about Mum’s estate. I sat at the table opposite him lost in his reflections of how much he missed Mum and the fact that neither of them were there to go to for advice anymore. I gave him my full attention as he talked on about the boys, I suppose I looked as though I was hanging on his every word. I was, it’s not every day I get to spend a couple of hours with my brother, alone. The waitress brought him the bill, I paid, she gave him the receipt to sign, I signed and as we left the owner told us there was a long line at The Bridge, Beckenham’s local night club.
“So, we must not have any familial resemblance.” I acquiesced!
He took my arm and ushered me out!
Well hello there! My name is Vivienne McNeny.
I am an empty nester exploring life as a Boomer…you could say I'm happily Boomering along!
As a homeschooling Mum I have finally quit the job of role model and mentor to my four children. I do what I want to do, eat when I feel like it, enjoy life with my blue eyed cowboy and clean my house once a month or so whether it needs it or not!
In true English form I write about the emergence of my true identity now that I can no longer hide behind my children as their Mum.
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