So, the other day I was talking with my Aunt Maudine and she told me that she hasn’t been feeling very energetic lately. This is the woman who taught me to take pharmaceuticals with a vodka tonic, so it’s not terribly surprising to me. But, she was very upset about this. I asked her if she had tried shopping, and she told me that she wasn’t really interested. I’m certain that my nosey next-door neighbor heard my gasp, even without the microphone he installed under my coffee table back in the late 90’s. I told her that I was on my way, but she just said “Don’t bother.”
I’m not usually one to disrespect my elders, but honestly, I couldn’t imagine what was going on in her head, so I got my bag and keys and sunglasses and when I opened the door to go to my car there she was, getting ready to ring the doorbell. “I told you not to bother,” she said.
I just didn’t quite know what to do with her. She recently got married again, found a beautiful home on the lake, decorated it. What else could be the matter. “I just feel empty,” she said, sipping vodka mixed with blood orange Italian soda. Well, if shopping at the nicest department stores in Central Texas doesn’t fill her, then what would? I suggested New York City, but she just waved it away.
I decided that we needed to walk through downtown. I thought it was too bad that it wasn’t the second Thursday of the month. I think she’d like walking around during Sip Shop and Stroll. But, we’d just make the best of it. I thought about stopping off at The Owl first to have a glass of wine, but she seemed to be contented with the vodka she had at home.
We were walking along the sidewalk. She wasn’t saying much and I didn’t see her looking at much. But, she was game to see our pretty little downtown, and that gave me hope. It wasn’t terribly hot yet, but it was getting there, and Aunt Maudine isn’t quite the country girl I am, so we ducked into ATX Jerky to cool off.
I can’t imagine my Aunt Maudine gnawing on a piece of beef jerky, but once we got in out of the heat she began walking around. Looking at the local honeys really seemed to perk her spirits up. The nice gentleman let her sample some on a piece of bread and she became downright talkative. She had him show her every product that they sold, and he was able to tell her who made each one, where they were from, everything but what their children wanted for Christmas. This man knows his artisan products.
I knew what to do next. As soon as we walked out of there, bags in hand, we headed straight for the Clever Tiger. I haven’t been in there that often, but it’s very creative. I never thought of Aunt Maudine to be hanging out with artists, but she’s become a different person in the last 24 hours, so who knows. It just so happened that there was a painter there, setting up a show. This young lady was as pretty as she could be and with a… style. She had on tattered jeans and those black and white tennies that are made of thin material and strap up the ankles. They were never my thing, but this girl really pulled it off. Her hair was a little to perfectly messed up to have been accidental, and a tattoo spun its way down her arm from inside her tee-shirt. Like I said, she was just a lovely little thing, and as sweet a girl as I’ve ever met. She talked to Aunt Maudine about her painting, where she worked, what gave her inspiration. I never would have thought my own Aunt would be so enthralled by art at this hands-on a level. But, before you know it she was inviting the nice girl to Luigi’s to eat with us. I didn’t even know we were going to Luigi’s.
Thank goodness they serve wine. I just witnessed the transformation of a dearly beloved relative, right in front of my eyes. I can’t wait to tell my cousin Myrna about this.